Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

I am raising the issue of traffic management around our two major international stadia, namely, Croke Park and Lansdowne Road. Traffic is a nightmare at the best of times, but it is an additional nightmare everywhere in the north inner city whenever there is a football match, concert, or other event in Croke Park. Planning permission was granted for the development of Croke Park 12 years ago on the understanding that a cordon sanitaire would be introduced. It was also understood that park and ride facilities would be provided on the city's perimeter and that public transport would be the major form of transport to Croke Park. However, nothing whatsoever has been done to relieve the hard pressed and beleaguered residents in the communities surrounding Croke Park and further afield. If anything, the circumstances have worsened. The construction of Croke Park has now been completed and the stadium has a capacity of 82,000.

As well as Gaelic football and hurling matches in the spring, summer and autumn, Croke Park hosts Australian Rules football and a number of concerts in the summer. Moreover, during the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road, Croke Park will host numerous international rugby and soccer matches for the next number of years. These games will start in February 2007 and will almost certainly attract capacity crowds. Floodlights are currently being installed and even more sporting events will be held in Croke Park. Croke Park is also a major conference centre attracting large numbers of people and vehicles throughout the year.

Despite this intense activity and use, planning conditions did not require the GAA to provide even one parking space in Croke Park or elsewhere for the visiting public. The long-awaited pilot park and ride scheme was to start in August 2006. However, nothing happened and the GAA has informed Dublin City Council that it is not financially feasible for it to contribute to the provision of park and ride facilities for the travelling public. The GAA is an exceedingly profitable corporate entity that has received close to €100 million from the public purse towards the reconstruction of Croke Park. Moreover, it has benefited enormously from its downtown city centre location. It has taken much but is prepared to give little. It is unacceptable that the greatest voluntary organisation in the country should put profit before people in such an arrogant manner.

The only way the public interest can now be served is for the Minister for Transport to introduce special legislation governing parking and traffic management for the two city centre national stadia, namely, Croke Park and Lansdowne Road when it is rebuilt. The legislation would regulate such matters as the reservation of parking on public roads in the vicinity of the sports stadia for residents on event days; the provision of park and ride facilities on the perimeter of the city; the use of public transport; and an integrated ticketing system to cover such parking and transport. Direct statutory intervention is the only way to resolve the impasse and action must be taken immediately.

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