Mr. Brendan O'Brien:

Dublin City Council operates a number of multi-storey car parks in the city centre. There are also a large number of private operators of car parks. We have not investigated in any great detail the possibility of going underground with car parking for a number of reasons. Cost is one reason, as are the archaeological elements that one finds, especially in the city centre. It is part of the city council's strategy to ensure that car parking spaces and access to car parks are maintained for people on shopping trips and so forth. There is always a difference in perspective in respect of commuter trips, which we hope will transfer to public transport, walking or cycling, and shopping trips. We recognise that we have to provide shoppers with sufficient car park spaces in the city centre and access to them. This is part of the strategy we are working through.