Park and Ride Facilities.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 January 2007

Wednesday, 31 January 2007

Questions (1124, 1125, 1126, 1127, 1128)

Emmet Stagg

Question:

1209 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Transport the proposal he has received for park and ride facilities under Transport 21; and the details of same. [2998/07]

Damien English

Question:

1216 Mr. English asked the Minister for Transport his plans for a park and ride bus facility for bus users in Kells, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43818/06]

Damien English

Question:

1217 Mr. English asked the Minister for Transport his plans for a park and ride facility for bus users in Navan, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43819/06]

Damien English

Question:

1218 Mr. English asked the Minister for Transport his plans for a park and ride facility for bus users in Athboy, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43820/06]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

1242 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Transport the money available from his Department for the provision of park and ride facilities; the money that has been allocated; and the money that has been applied for to provide facilities in the administrative area of Fingal County Council. [1336/07]

Written answers

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1209, 1216 to 1218, inclusive, and 1242 together.

Funding is being made available over the lifetime of Transport 21 to provide for the development of park and ride facilities. This is being done through Iarnród Éireann and local authorities. In 2006, my Department approved funding for Iarnród Éireann totalling €3.865 million to fund:

expansion-improvement works at the car parks serving Ennis, Mallow and Leixlip-Louisa Bridge railway stations. These improvement works will increase the total car parking available at these stations by over 650 spaces;

the cost of a feasibility study by Irish Rail on a car park expansion programme, which considered the prioritisation of car park improvement works necessary throughout the network including at station locations within the Fingal area.

Arising from this study the implementation and funding of further car park expansion and improvement works at railway stations is currently a matter being discussed between my Department and Irish Rail. In addition, car park provision will form part of major new railway infrastructure works such as the Kildare Route Project and the Navan Rail Link. In respect of local authorities, my Department has set aside €56.9 million for both park and ride and bus priority measures in 2007. I await proposals for funding from local authorities in respect of specific projects. Currently, I have no proposals from Fingal County Council or Meath County Council.