asked the Minister for Justice if he has plans to improve the parking facilities for the public at Rathfarnham Garda station.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Station Parking Facilities.
12.
The answer is "no". I might mention that, as far as the Garda are aware, there is no cause for complaint in relation to parking facilities in the vicinity of the station.
The Minister may not be familiar with the area but is he aware that there is a large open space adjacent to this Garda station which could be developed as a public car park? Is he aware also that due to cars parked outside the Garda station on the public road invariably only single line traffic is possible?
I am not aware of this open space. My information is that there is no demand for extra car parking facilities at this station. I understand there are facilities to accommodate about 12 cars and that, with the exception of about half-an-hour during lunch time, the space is not fully taken up. I understand further that there is unrestricted kerbside parking within a reasonable distance of the Garda station and I have not been informed that there have been any complaints about obstruction or diminishing the size of the carriageway.
Would the Minister consider making the space immediately outside the Garda station a "no parking" area? Admittedly there are kerbside parking facilities but, since the Rathfarnham shopping centre opened, this has become a very busy thoroughfare.
If there was a parking problem adjacent to the Garda station, I think the Garda would be the first to come to me with the suggestion that the matter might be rectified and I have had no complaints.
Arising from the Minister's unsatisfactory reply, has the Minister actually visited the location in question, Rathfarnham District Court, and is he aware that it is in a very dangerous position? Has he any plans to abandon it as a courthouse and relocate it elsewhere?
This is a separate question.
The Deputy must know that I have not visited Rathfarnham Garda station with a view to answering this question——
I would advise the Minister to visit it.
——and only for the happy event which put the Deputy back in practice, he would not have been there either.
The Minister is being most offensive.
(Interruptions.)
I have been asked to answer supplementary questions which are not relevant to the question that was raised and my answer was described as unsatisfactory by a Deputy who did not ask the question.
(Interruptions.)
Could we get back to Questions please? No. 13.