Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter. There are six train stations in my constituency. Kildare North would generally be regarded as being in the heart of the commuter belt and transport-related matters are a key issue because of the level of congestion both locally and to and from Dublin city centre and other parts of the city. Part of the focus of Transport 21 is an attempt to shift people away from a high dependence on the private car and towards the use of public transport. It is not just a question of providing additional trains, buses, stations and a wider variety of radial and orbital routes, it is about considering how commuters get from their hall doors to their destinations. I can say with certainty that there is total chaos every day of the week at the stations in my constituency. I expect the same is true of most other suburban stations. Not only are cars parked at the stations but they are also in neighbouring housing estates, along footpaths and streets.

It is difficult to conclude that there is anything other than a willingness by the public to use public transport but much more attention needs to be paid to ancillary services around public transport corridors. For example, a greater use of feeder buses is one option that could be considered. While the likelihood of such services making money is remote, if one balances the cost of congestion against the subsidy that would be paid there is a strong argument in favour of such services. The same can be said about the provision of decent well lit footpaths and cycleways.

As the capacity of public transport services increases, the absence of provision of such services around public transport corridors will get worse. Irish Rail is now actively considering charging for parking at train stations. I have heard a tariff of €4 per day mooted. When one considers that a day return ticket can cost €3.60, this would more than double the daily travel cost for some commuters, thus making public transport a most unattractive option. I am well aware that it can be expensive to provide and maintain car parking facilities to a high standard but if one empties the car parks, most cars will converge onto the N4, the N7, the M50 etc. When one considers the issues of inefficiency, congestion both in terms of the cost to individuals and the economy, carbon emissions and the cost of carbon trading and increased accident rates, it is a small cost in the overall context of the provision of public transport.

Maynooth station car park is full before 8 a.m. Many commuters drive from Enfield to Maynooth to get the train. Neighbouring housing estates are filled with commuters' cars and all the on-street parking spaces in the village are taken up, thus leaving no space for shoppers. This puts pressure on the local authority for the provision of off-street parking, which is expensive.

Hazelhatch station, which serves Celbridge, is a mile from the town centre so there is no question of people walking to it. Cars park on the path and cycleway for up to 100 yd. beyond the train station which has a fairly big car park. Sallins station, which serves Naas, is also a distance from the town. I am trying to paint a picture for the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, of what conditions are like at those three stations.

It is intended to charge for parking at the new car park provided at Leixlip Louisa Bridge station. This will make it unattractive for commuters. When cars are parked in neighbouring housing estates it makes it difficult for bins to be collected, people cannot get deliveries and there is a problem with access for emergency vehicles. There is a need to address this serious problem in the overall context of the provision of additional public transport. People are willing to use public transport but it must be considered how people get from their homes to their destinations. I can well understand imposing charges for parking in the city centre as a disincentive to the use of cars but I cannot understand why it would be considered on the outskirts. I believe it will be counterproductive.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Catherine Murphy for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to respond. The provision of facilities at train stations to enhance physical access to services and increase usage is integral to investments already made in the rail network under the national development plan and planned or under way under Transport 21.

Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, substantial Exchequer funding has been provided for improvements at stations throughout the network. Such improvements include upgrade works on stations and access to stations, platforms, lighting, signage, car parks, etc. In addition, Iarnród Éireann seeks to facilitate and develop feeder bus services to maximise use of train services. For example, feeder bus services are operated jointly with Dublin Bus at Sutton, Blackrock, Dún Laoghaire and Connolly Station, for Heuston Station. Where new stations are being built, for example as part of the Cork commuter services project and the Kildare route project, a high standard of customer facilities is specified in the design, including for extensive car parking facilities and for pedestrian and cyclist access.

Access and services are further enhanced through the requirement that all investments in both new and existing facilities comply with the Department's sectoral plan under the Disability Act 2005. This plan establishes a framework for a high standard for access generally to public transport services, and was developed in consultation with disability and other user groups.

Park and ride facilities are an important component in encouraging people to transfer from private cars and onto public transport. I have therefore made funding available under Transport 21 for the capital costs of developing park and ride facilities. Iarnród Éireann has park and ride facilities at the majority of the 134 railway stations throughout its network. These vary from small on-street facilities to large pay facilities at major stations.

In the greater Dublin area, GDA, Iarnród Éireann has over 30 car parks, each with more than 20 car spaces. The largest of these are at Greystones, Coolmine, Kildare and Newbridge. In addition, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council operates a pay car park at Salthill station. Both Connolly and Heuston Stations have dedicated pay car parks for intercity service users. There is a pay parking facility at Cork station and Galway station has a limited number of spaces for public use. There is also car parking at Waterford. Iarnród Éireann plans to expand the parking facilities at Cork and Galway stations.

Iarnród Éireann has been extending car parking facilities at all locations where it has land available. In recent years this has included Portmarnock, Newbridge, Killester, Clontarf Road and Skerries. Iarnród Éireann is currently undertaking car parking extensions at Mallow, Ennis, and Leixlip Louisa Bridge.

My Department is also funding, as part of Transport 21, a study by Irish Rail into the prioritisation of car park initiatives across the rail network, with a view to developing a strategic, programmed approach to the provision of car park facilities in the future. In the meantime, all new station developments on commuter networks in the GDA and the rest of the country are designed to include car park facilities.

The issue of pay parking at train stations is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance having regard to the costs and revenues involved, traffic management requirements and the need to ensure the viability of rail routes.