Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Transport when increased park and ride facilities will be in operation nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9123/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The development of public transport park and ride facilities is primarily a matter for transport providers, local authorities and private developers, either separately or in appropriate conjunction. However, since the provision of such facilities is significant in promoting a more integrated approach to public transport, and in making it a more attractive consumer product, my Department has been progressing certain initiatives to encourage development of park and ride facilities across the country.

Under Transport 21, €5 million is being made available in 2006 for park and ride facilities and interchanges in the greater Dublin area, GDA. In summer 2005, I approved a Dublin Transportation Office, DTO, strategy for rail-based park and ride and indicated that capital funding would be made available for suitable projects. The DTO strategy for rail-based park and ride envisages facilities at some 22 locations on the existing and proposed rail network within the GDA. Arrangements for rail-based park and ride funding will also extend to public transport interchange projects. Capital funding for pilot bus-based park and ride projects will also be considered. However, revenue support to subsidise the operation of park and ride facilities is a matter for each developer.

Two types of park and ride are envisaged, namely, strategic and local sites. A number of larger strategic sites will be identified close to or on the strategic rail corridors where longer distance commuters can transfer to public transport. Local park and ride sites will be smaller in scale and located along public transport corridors, principally rail. Good examples of these types of sites are the existing facilities at DART-suburban rail stations. It is important that interchange and park and ride developments should, wherever possible, be included as part of a wider public transport development framework. While a number of specific proposals are under consideration by the relevant agencies, there are currently no such proposals awaiting the approval of my Department.

Outside Dublin, my Department has provided significant funding for the highly-successful Black Ash Park and Ride in Cork, which was officially opened in December 2004. Further funding for additional park and ride and bus priority measures in the regional cities has been provided for in Transport 21. Various bus priority measures are currently being implemented in the regional cities with funding from my Department, and the relevant local authorities are carrying out investigations of park and ride possibilities in their areas. However, my Department does not have park and ride proposals on hands at present.