Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Hannigan for raising this issue. I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, who is unavoidably absent.

The provision and management of car parks is a day-to-day operational matter for Iarnród Éireann. I can see no value in introducing a new layer of regulation providing for ministerial control in this area. New facilities are being provided to public transport customers at a very reasonable price in line with the Dublin Transportation Office guidelines.

The modest charges recently introduced are significantly lower than that charged by local authorities for on-street parking, for parking at local authority and private facilities adjacent to rail stations or the fee for Luas commuters, which is €4 per day.

It must be borne in mind that in many instances where parking is free, it is abused. People who are not rail users are taking up spaces at railway stations to avoid paying parking fees imposed by local authorities and-or private operators. This gives rise to rail commuters having to park in residential areas some distance from rail stations, causing a nuisance for residents. It can also discourage people from using trains because they cannot park in a safe, secure car park at the station.

Where these new improved services are opened, a minimal charge has been introduced of €2 per day or €5 per week to cover operational and security costs, to discourage non-rail users from taking spaces and to reserve spaces for those who must use a car to access the station. The charges are in line with the guiding principles for the implementation of rail-based park and ride developed by the Dublin Transportation Office. These provide, inter alia, that rail users only should use park and ride spaces and may have to pay to use them. Rail fares generally should not be increased to pay for park and ride. Those who benefit from park and ride should contribute to the cost of it.

As part of its upgrade of the railway system, Iarnród Éireann has embarked, with Exchequer support, on a major programme of upgrading its park and ride facilities to benefit its customers. Park and ride facilities can and do have a positive impact on public transport use and have an important role to play in encouraging people to transfer from private cars to public transport.

In considering whether to impose charges for the use of park and ride facilities, providers are expected to take into account a variety of factors, and these would include consideration of the likely impact of charges on use of the facility and, by extension, on public transport use. Where Iarnród Éireann has provided new parking and introduced modest charges for it, there has been no reduction in usage.