Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

I welcome the fact that the Minister has taken on board the point I made on Committee Stage. The location of park and ride facilities is a critical aspect of public transport in and out of the city of Dublin. The DTA will now have a specific role to play in the provision of such facilities. One of the difficulties is that the DTA will have responsibility for transport in Dublin and will not be a national transport authority. Therefore, the number of areas in which park and ride facilities could be established will be limited by the boundaries of the DTA's area of influence.

What will happen if it is deemed that there is a need for a park and ride facility outside the DTA's area? In that context, provision is not made, for example, in respect of County Louth. If the DTA is of the view that a need for park and ride facilities exists and if the local authorities responsible for the areas adjacent to its area of influence agree, how will such facilities be provided?

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