asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the lack of parking facilities in the City of Dublin, which causes grave inconvenience particularly to country visitors to the city; and if he will consider doing something to ameliorate these conditions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Parking Facilities.
The main parking problem in Dublin relates to the central city area. The Commissioner of the Garda Síochána is responsible for the appointment of kerbside parking places and I am advised by him that all suitable places in the centre of the city are being used for this purpose.
I am informed by the corporation that a number of sites acquired by them in the central city area for various public purposes have been made available as temporary off-street car parks pending the development of the sites for the purposes for which they were acquired.
The city's development over the centuries and the need for structural re-development where areas have been cleared present obvious limits to what either the commissioner or the local authority can do in expanding parking facilities. I am satisfied, however, that within the powers and resources of the commissioner and the corporation reasonable facilities are being provided, but I will ask the corporation to see if any further temporary sites could be made available, pending and without prejudice to their programmes of rebuilding in central city areas. I might add that I am inclined to agree with the suggestion frequently made that much could be done by the motorists themselves to reduce the congestion, for example, by parking a short distance outside the central area. I am informed that ample parking space is available within half-a-mile radius of the city centre.
Does the Minister not consider that it would be a good idea to establish overhead or underground parking facilities such as exist in so many capital cities in different parts of Europe?
That is a matter for the corporation.
Could not the Minister recommend that to the corporation?
It is not for the Minister, unfortunately, in any of these cases to initiate any such schemes.