Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Catherine Murphy for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to respond. The provision of facilities at train stations to enhance physical access to services and increase usage is integral to investments already made in the rail network under the national development plan and planned or under way under Transport 21.

Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, substantial Exchequer funding has been provided for improvements at stations throughout the network. Such improvements include upgrade works on stations and access to stations, platforms, lighting, signage, car parks, etc. In addition, Iarnród Éireann seeks to facilitate and develop feeder bus services to maximise use of train services. For example, feeder bus services are operated jointly with Dublin Bus at Sutton, Blackrock, Dún Laoghaire and Connolly Station, for Heuston Station. Where new stations are being built, for example as part of the Cork commuter services project and the Kildare route project, a high standard of customer facilities is specified in the design, including for extensive car parking facilities and for pedestrian and cyclist access.

Access and services are further enhanced through the requirement that all investments in both new and existing facilities comply with the Department's sectoral plan under the Disability Act 2005. This plan establishes a framework for a high standard for access generally to public transport services, and was developed in consultation with disability and other user groups.

Park and ride facilities are an important component in encouraging people to transfer from private cars and onto public transport. I have therefore made funding available under Transport 21 for the capital costs of developing park and ride facilities. Iarnród Éireann has park and ride facilities at the majority of the 134 railway stations throughout its network. These vary from small on-street facilities to large pay facilities at major stations.

In the greater Dublin area, GDA, Iarnród Éireann has over 30 car parks, each with more than 20 car spaces. The largest of these are at Greystones, Coolmine, Kildare and Newbridge. In addition, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council operates a pay car park at Salthill station. Both Connolly and Heuston Stations have dedicated pay car parks for intercity service users. There is a pay parking facility at Cork station and Galway station has a limited number of spaces for public use. There is also car parking at Waterford. Iarnród Éireann plans to expand the parking facilities at Cork and Galway stations.

Iarnród Éireann has been extending car parking facilities at all locations where it has land available. In recent years this has included Portmarnock, Newbridge, Killester, Clontarf Road and Skerries. Iarnród Éireann is currently undertaking car parking extensions at Mallow, Ennis, and Leixlip Louisa Bridge.

My Department is also funding, as part of Transport 21, a study by Irish Rail into the prioritisation of car park initiatives across the rail network, with a view to developing a strategic, programmed approach to the provision of car park facilities in the future. In the meantime, all new station developments on commuter networks in the GDA and the rest of the country are designed to include car park facilities.

The issue of pay parking at train stations is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance having regard to the costs and revenues involved, traffic management requirements and the need to ensure the viability of rail routes.

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