Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 3

Written Answers. - Park and Ride Facilities.

Liam Lawlor

Ceist:

287 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will explore with the Dublin local authorities the possibility of establishing park and ride areas on the peripheries of the city in the context of the development of the Dublin suburban rail network in view of the fact that increasing numbers of persons are commuting by car in and out of the city from locations such as Mullingar, Portlaoise and Drogheda; and if he will direct an examination of these developments in relation to Exchequer and EU funding or through public or private partnership. [22559/99]

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

299 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that local authorities own very little land along the quality bus corridor which would be suitable for use as park and ride sites and the financial incentives for private park and ride do not cover associated commercial developments; the park and ride sites available and planned to come on stream in the next 12 months and their capacities; and the proposals, if any, he has to expand provision. [22359/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 299 together.

Park and ride facilities are widely recognised as an important instrument in achieving an integrated approach to urban traffic congestion. Well located facilities of this kind can assist in encouraging commuters to leave their cars in secure parking areas and travel by public transport to the city centre thereby reducing traffic congestion.

Tax incentives, which were included in the Finance Act, 1999, aimed at encouraging the participation of the private sector in the development of park and ride facilities in our major cities of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. The tax incentives cover the county boroughs of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford and the administrative counties of Clare, Cork, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick, Meath, South Dublin, Waterford and Wicklow and the urban district councils situated in the administrative counties of Kildare, Meath or Wicklow. I issued guidelines in August 1999 on the criteria and requirements to be met by park and ride facilities and associated residential development for which tax relief is sought. Further guidelines will be issued in due course relating to tax incentives for associated commercial development when the necessary EU approval for such incentives has been obtained. It is not intended to extend these incentives to other locations at present.

In addition, the provision of £2 million was provided in the 1999 budget for the development of park and ride facilities in the Dublin area. This funding along with own resources expenditure by Iarnród Éireann and local authorities is currently being used for the development of new and the upgrading of existing, mainly rail based, park and ride facilities by the relevant local authorities. It is expected that almost 3,300 car parking spaces will have been provided at locations in the Dublin area before the end of 2000.

The Dublin Transportation Office will continue to promote, with the relevant local authorities and transport providers, the provision of park and ride facilities as an important means of facilitating a shift to public transport. Indeed, the Dublin Transportation Office's Transportation Blueprint 2000-2006 outlines a number of locations where park and ride facilities are considered necessary. In addition, the national development plan will place particular emphasis on addressing transport needs in the greater Dublin area and as part of this will provide for further investment in traffic management initiatives including the provision of park and ride facilities.