Vol. 560 No. 1
753 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport his policy in regard to the promotion of park and ride facilities; his views on whether the current tax incentive schemes for park and ride facilities is adequate; if not, the steps he is proposing to take to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1387/03]
In August 1999, my Department issued local authorities with guidelines relating to the certification of qualifying park and ride facilities and residential development located at a park and ride facility. Further guidelines on commercial development located at a park and ride facility were issued in July 2001. Copies of the guidelines have been made available in the Oireachtas Library.
Issues relating to the current tax incentive schemes for park and ride facilities are a matter for the Minister for Finance. The park and ride tax incentives are provided for in the Finance Act 1999 and the Finance Act 2001. The qualifying period for the incentives was extended to June 2004 in the Finance Act 2002.
The purpose of these tax incentives is to support the development of park and ride schemes in order to facilitate the use of public transport. A person wishing to avail of the capital allowances and reliefs available must make a formal application in writing to the relevant local authority. If the local authority is satisfied that the park and ride facility, and associated development, where relevant, conforms to the guidelines issued by my Department and also conforms with the relevant sections of the Finance Act, it may issue a certificate which will enable the developer to avail of the tax incentives. Tax incentives for private sector provision of park and ride car-parking were introduced in addition to provision being made by the public sector.
In the greater Dublin area, the DTO's blueprint for the development of the region's transportation network, A Platform for Change, recognises the role of park and ride as part of an integrated approach to transport.
The Government provided specific funding in 1999 and 2000 to create an additional 2,300 car-parking spaces adjacent to DART and suburban rail stations in the greater Dublin area. Planning for the Luas system also incorporates proposals to create park and ride facilities at appropriate stops.
A recently completed DTO-commissioned study into the role bus-based park and ride facilities could play in the greater Dublin area concluded that only a limited role could be played by bus-based park and rides in the greater Dublin area because of the size of the city. I understand that the office of the director of traffic has been mandated to develop a pilot project. The operation of the pilot project will be monitored by the DTO to assess the potential for further projects.
