Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

Gormanstown is in my former constituency; it is in Deputy Shane McEntee's constituency. It gives him an issue that he can talk about. The charges of €2 per day or €5 per week are very modest. The charges were designed to prevent people using the facilities who were not using the trains. It is modest and it provides some deterrent, although the evidence is that it does not deter everybody.

Over the lifetime of Transport 21, a total of €180 million is available to local authorities for providing park and ride facilities in the greater Dublin area. When the facilities are in place, there is a need to service and maintain them. One of the principles of the provision of park and ride facilities is that the cost of the facilities should not be added to rail fares. I am happy that the charges are reasonable. The facilities offer an incentive and the small charge is a deterrent to those who wish to park but not travel by train.

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