Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)

We discussed this issue with the Minister's predecessor on a number of occasions. Like myself, he thought the existing legislation was adequate, but the departmental officials did not think so. They thought there might be a constitutional issue if the area was restricted to residents only. The matter was referred to the Attorney General, who got back to the Department on the matter.

Amendment No. 22 would give local authorities the powers they need to do what needs to be done on the main street in Celbridge. The council wishes to implement a pay-parking management scheme on that street. However, when this happens people who park there all day will simply move from the main street into the adjoining residential areas. That creates havoc because they are gone all day and they park illegally across gates and on footpaths. We would need a special police force to deal with this issue alone. For example, there are 18 gardaí in Celbridge, six of whom are on duty at any one time. They would need to be employed full time to control this problem since the council has not got the power to do so. The amendment would deal with this problem adequately, as it would give the power to the council to specify categories of people who would be allowed to park. In this case, only residents would be allowed to park and a sign would be put up to that effect.

Officials in the Department felt that it might be unconstitutional to specify a category of person who could park in such an area. However, councils can specify parking places for handicapped people only, so I do not see why they cannot do it for others as well. Given the fact that the Minister's predecessor promised that this problem would be dealt with in this Bill, I ask that he look favourably on this amendment. It would provide a way for local authorities to deal with a very real problem. The Minister should take some time to look at the issue before he finalises the Bill.

See this speech in context