asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the damage done to business by reason of the inflexible nature of parking restrictions as a result of which parking is sometimes prohibited during business hours on the sides of streets which have comparatively little traffic flow; and if he will alter the regulations to permit parking at off-peak periods in Dublin suburban streets on the sides of streets with least traffic-flow.
Written Answers. - Car Parking.
489.
Decisions as to location in which parking is prohibited or restricted are matters for the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána and the local authorities concerned. I have no power to effect changes of the nature suggested by the Deputy.
490.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the extent to which private use of roadways in several Dublin suburbs is being impeded by reason of the parking on such roadways and adjacent footpaths of large numbers of motor vehicles, the property, or in the custody of persons who carry on the business of dealing in or repairing cars; if he is satisfied that present laws are adequate and being adequately enforced to prevent trading in cars or the parking of cars used in connection with such trading on roadways; and, if not, if he will introduce new legislation or ensure effective enforcement of existing legislation to deal with the matter.
The enforcement of parking restrictions in the areas referred to is primarily a matter for the Garda Síochána who also have power, as have the road authorities, to remove, store and, if necessary, dispose of unlawfully parked vehicles.
491.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the serious damage being caused to traditional business areas in Dublin by reason of the non-availability of adequate off-street parking in such neighbourhoods, the amounts collected by Dublin Corporation and the Garda in Dublin in parking fines and in parking meter charges in each of the last ten years; the amount of such revenue spent or proposed to be spent in providing parking accommodation; and if he is satisfied with the progress of Dublin Corporation and other local authorities in providing parking accommodation to prevent the wasteful rundown of long established business areas.
It is for a local authority to decide on the provisions to be made in their development plan for off-street parking, and the extent to which that should be achieved by public authorities and private developers respectively. I have no doubt that the local authorities take due account of all relevant factors in framing their development plans. Furthermore, as to the use of specific sites, including vacant lots, for off-street car parking, it is for the local authority to decide whether to use or allow the use of such sites.
The use of any net income derived from parking meter fees after allowing for certain statutory charges, is primarily a matter for decision by the local authority concerned. Penalties on foot of notices served by the Garda under section 103 of the Road Traffic Act of 1961 are payable at Garda stations and do not therefore accrue to local authorities. The Deputy's request for particulars of such payments is accordingly not appropriate to my Department.
I am informed by Dublin Corporation that gross receipts from parking meter fees in the years in question were as shown in the table below.
|
Year |
Parking Meter Fees |
|
£ |
|
|
1967-68 |
— |
|
1968-69 |
— |
|
1969-70 |
9,059 |
|
1970-71 |
139,961 |
|
1971-72 |
153,064 |
|
1972-73 |
169,970 |
|
1973-74 |
195,110 |
|
1974 (9 months) |
121,851 |
|
1975 |
178,779 |
|
1976 |
162,812 |