Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 29 Feb 2000

Vol. 515 No. 3

Written Answers. - Park and Ride Facilities.

John Bruton

Ceist:

85 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the local authorities, if any, which have issued a certificate to developers in respect of qualifying park and ride facilities in accordance with section 70 of the Finance Act, 1999; if he has satisfied himself that this tax incentive is working to develop park and ride facilities with the urgency required; the plans, if any, he has to develop park and ride facilities independently of private sector applications to ensure that these facilities are provided speedily and in the places they are needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4913/00]

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

Tax incentives were included in the Finance Act, 1999, to encourage private sector participation in the development of park and ride facilities in major cities, including Dublin. 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.

While I am not aware that any local authority has, to date, issued a certificate under section 70 of the Finance Act, 1999, I understand that a number of private sector proposals for park and ride facilities may be at an early stage of development. In addition, DTO traffic management grants in 1999 included a total of some £2 million for the development of park and ride facilities in the Dublin area. Some 2,300 park and ride car parking spaces, mainly rail-based, have been provided to date under this programme which is continuing on the basis of funding to be provided by the DTO, as well as own resources expenditure by Iarnród Éireann and local authorities.