Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I have another question on road space allocation or creating those kind of safer walking routes that require the taking away of car parking spaces. It is always contentious when this is discussed at council level. Local businesses always say they will lose business because people cannot park outside the business they want to go to. I know TU Dublin has done a study on Blackrock and from what I have read, it indicates an increase in footfall and probably an increase in economic activity where a change is made. This was again distorted by Covid-19. Do we have any really good research from before Covid-19 that takes in where we have given over that road space allocation and prioritised pedestrianisation and where local businesses have benefited rather than lost out from the loss of car parking spaces?

It is an argument we see time and again at council level and councillors often give in to that lobbying, not taking the difficult decision that would probably after six months of a trial show as beneficial. Where have we really good examples of this in Ireland or Europe? I would prefer an Irish example.