Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2015
849. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a proposal for parking bays on the footpaths on a congested residential road (details supplied) in Dublin 4; and proposals for a one-way system on the road. [30319/15]
View answerI am aware of this matter, and have received and responded to correspondence from the local residents' committee.
Under the Traffic and Parking Regulations, parking and partial parking of vehicles on pavements is currently not permitted. In June 2014, following representations on the issue, my predecessor indicated that he would ask the National Transport Authority (NTA) to examine the issue further and to consider the possibility of introducing a pilot scheme for partial parking on pavements.
The NTA responded earlier this year and indicated that, after extensive consideration of the request and consultation with local authorities and informally with An Garda Síochána, the introduction of permitted parking on footpaths is "highly undesirable and problematic". The key concerns arising from permitting any partial parking of vehicles on pavements are that footpaths are intended to provide a safe route for pedestrians and to segregate them from other road users, thereby enhancing road safety and protecting the most vulnerable of our road users, including children, the impaired and the elderly. Furthermore, footpaths are not designed or constructed to take the weight of cars or heavier goods vehicles. Allowing footpaths to be so used for parking will lead to more rapid deterioration of the footpath surface, further increasing maintenance costs and providing greater trip hazards for pedestrians.
The safety of all road users must be at the core of traffic and parking regulations. In light of all the evidence, I am of the view that safety considerations for pedestrians outweigh any benefits from the proposal to allow parking or partial parking on footpaths in any circumstances and I have no plan to change the Traffic and Parking Regulations to allow for this.
The choice of whether to implement a one-way system on a given road is entirely a matter for the local authority in question.
