Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I commend Ms Tara Buckley of RGDATA on a report launched yesterday by that organisation entitled A Nightmare on Every Street, Town Centres, Car Parking and Smart Travel. We are all aware of the fact that we have a punitive level of parking charges and restrictions in most towns. Local authorities should be trying to save town centres from desertion and destruction but in many instances they are actively destroying the vitality of our towns. We must remember the enormous investment that has been made in town centres in recent years. The retail core is a very significant economic hub in every town and it must be protected. RGDATA carried out a survey which shows that the level of parking charges in all towns surveyed is punitive and that there are also many inconsistencies from one area to the next. I ask that parking charges be standardised. We need new guidelines to end inconsistencies and to help to combat the pull of shoppers away from towns towards out of town shopping centres with free parking. Standardised arrangements would provide a level playing pitch and would also provide additional funding for local authorities. Although we may be closing the stable door after the horse has bolted in this regard, it could stop the drift towards out of town planning, which has been disastrous. I commend the aforementioned report, about which I could say a lot more. I ask that we have a debate on this issue. Perhaps the Deputy Leader could ask the Leader, who is attending the State funeral today, to arrange a debate on town centres and their destruction.