Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress that has been made to address the lack of park and ride facilities in Dublin; if his Department has plans to meet the target of 74 park and ride sites in Dublin as was stated at the outset of Transport 21; the number of additional sites that have been provided since they were announced in December 2005; his plans to introduce park and ride sites in the commuter towns outside Dublin that have no such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24668/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Good progress is being made on the provision of park and ride facilities in the greater Dublin area, GDA. Iarnród Éireann is currently undertaking a nationwide programme of expanding and upgrading station car parks and 17 of these are in the GDA. New facilities at Leixlip Louisa Bridge and Adamstown were opened already this year and plans are well advanced at Donabate, Rush and Lusk and Sallins. Upgraded facilities at Gormanstown for 250 cars have also recently been provided. To date, 800 extra spaces have been provided in the GDA, along with the 200 extra spaces at Sallins which will be opened shortly. I have approved funding for Iarnród Éireann for a further 600 spaces at three other sites and proposals for a further 500 spaces are being considered by my Department.

The park and ride sites on the proposed Luas and metro lines will open simultaneously with the start-up of services. The extension of the Luas line to Cherrywood will include a park and ride site with 350 spaces at Carrickmines which will open in late 2010. Proposals from local authorities for rail-based park and ride facilities will also be considered for Transport 21 funding.

A DTO report has concluded that bus-based park and ride has a limited role in Dublin because of the city's size and consequent distances. Nonetheless, where there is a sound business case, my Department will give favourable consideration to funding. I understand that South Dublin County Council is awaiting the outcome of its application to An Bord Pleanála for permission for a bus-based park and ride facility close to Leixlip. I am confident that the Transport 21 commitments on park and ride facilities will be comprehensively delivered.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Park and ride facilities are well below what were targeted in the national plan in Transport 21. There are no park and ride facilities on the approaches to Dublin from the main motorway between Belfast and Dublin. If there were such a facility, it would prevent the delays people experience, notwithstanding the option of the port tunnel. While it is up to the local authorities in theory to make the proposals, we need a Dublin transport authority and a more dynamic team to drive the agenda. The local authorities are in some cases playing their part, but in other cases they are not doing so. Will the Minister make it happen?

Last week, people were waiting in traffic for an hour, having passed the entrance to the port tunnel, because they could not pay €12 before they got to Whitehall. If a park and ride option was available, people could take the bus.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I do not disagree with the Deputy. There is an emphasis on Transport 21 and some local authorities have been better than others in providing facilities. When the work starts on the metro and the joining of the Luas lines in the centre of the city, we must ensure we have plenty of park and ride facilities on the outskirts. I will encourage the local authorities to provide facilities.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The park and ride facilities are being provided by the taxpayer through the grants given to Iarnród Éireann. In Gormanstown, in the Minister's constituency, Iarnród Éireann is charging for the use of the park and ride facilities. The taxpayer has paid for them and Iarnród Éireann is hiking up the prices on people who want to use public transport. It is inequitable to take taxpayers money to build park and ride facilities and then charge for using them. People who use rail transport are very angry, particularly in the Minister's constituency. Will he address this issue with Iarnród Éireann and ensure that taxpayers' money is not used to generate more money for itself? It should be running a more efficient service in any event.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have a fundamental disagreement with the Deputy on charges for park and ride, regardless of whether the facilities are in my constituency.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Gormanstown.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Gormanstown is in my former constituency; it is in Deputy Shane McEntee's constituency. It gives him an issue that he can talk about. The charges of €2 per day or €5 per week are very modest. The charges were designed to prevent people using the facilities who were not using the trains. It is modest and it provides some deterrent, although the evidence is that it does not deter everybody.

Over the lifetime of Transport 21, a total of €180 million is available to local authorities for providing park and ride facilities in the greater Dublin area. When the facilities are in place, there is a need to service and maintain them. One of the principles of the provision of park and ride facilities is that the cost of the facilities should not be added to rail fares. I am happy that the charges are reasonable. The facilities offer an incentive and the small charge is a deterrent to those who wish to park but not travel by train.