Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

Good progress is being made on the provision of park and ride facilities in the greater Dublin area, GDA. Iarnród Éireann is currently undertaking a nationwide programme of expanding and upgrading station car parks and 17 of these are in the GDA. New facilities at Leixlip Louisa Bridge and Adamstown were opened already this year and plans are well advanced at Donabate, Rush and Lusk and Sallins. Upgraded facilities at Gormanstown for 250 cars have also recently been provided. To date, 800 extra spaces have been provided in the GDA, along with the 200 extra spaces at Sallins which will be opened shortly. I have approved funding for Iarnród Éireann for a further 600 spaces at three other sites and proposals for a further 500 spaces are being considered by my Department.

The park and ride sites on the proposed Luas and metro lines will open simultaneously with the start-up of services. The extension of the Luas line to Cherrywood will include a park and ride site with 350 spaces at Carrickmines which will open in late 2010. Proposals from local authorities for rail-based park and ride facilities will also be considered for Transport 21 funding.

A DTO report has concluded that bus-based park and ride has a limited role in Dublin because of the city's size and consequent distances. Nonetheless, where there is a sound business case, my Department will give favourable consideration to funding. I understand that South Dublin County Council is awaiting the outcome of its application to An Bord Pleanála for permission for a bus-based park and ride facility close to Leixlip. I am confident that the Transport 21 commitments on park and ride facilities will be comprehensively delivered.

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