Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Government’s position on parking, including workplace parking, is largely reflected in the recent climate action plan. Broadly speaking, the plan recognises the role of car parking, and the availability and price thereof, in people’s choice to use a car, and the associated impacts this can have on climate emissions as well as on traffic congestion and the efficient operation of our urban areas.

Within the context of managing traffic and transport demand, the plan also includes a commitment to develop a new national demand management strategy. For clarity, transport demand management is a term that is used to describe mechanisms for increasing efficiency in the transport system by reducing travel demand rather than increasing capacity. As part of the process to develop this strategy, consideration will be given to a range of measures to support such efficiency. Some of these will be parking related and will be considered and informed by the five cities demand management study, which was published in 2021, and the modelling analysis undertaken by the NTA to inform the transport input to the climate action plan. The removal of free workplace parking was highlighted as one of many potential measures for consideration. However, I want to be clear that there are no plans at this stage to remove workplace car parking for those with no viable public transport options.

The Government fully recognises that any demand management measures, including possible measures related to workplace parking, can only be effective and equitable when alternative and more sustainable public transport and active travel options are readily available. The Government also understands that significant cohorts of the population are locked into their car dependency by virtue of location or work-related shift patterns.

The Government will continue to invest in active travel infrastructure and public transport services to support greater travel options for all workers, including front-line workers, with a particular focus on large public sector hubs such as hospitals, ensuring those who have no other options are not unfairly penalised. In this regard, the climate action plan encourages public sector bodies to lead by example and specifically encourages them to support their staff, service users and visitors by promoting the use of bicycles and shared mobility options as an alternative to car use by creating and maintaining complementary facilities, including secure and accessible parking, shared mobility parking and charging stations, as appropriate.

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