Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Transport when he expects adequate parking facilities to be provided in the vicinity of all railway stations throughout the commuter belt or enhanced feeder bus services in lieu thereof; the extent to which he expects to encourage and facilitate commuter rail transport in the next two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35717/06]

Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Transport the situation regarding parking capacities at the Rush and Lusk, Portmarnock, Skerries, Balbriggan and Malahide train stations; his plans to expand these facilities in view of the significant growth in population in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35819/06]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of official park and ride sites currently operating in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Waterford with a breakdown for each city and the mode of transfer from that site in each case; and the further park and ride sites that are scheduled to be provided within the next two years with a breakdown by location, capacity and mode of transfer. [35769/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of car parking spaces expected to be provided adjacent or convenient to each of the commuter rail stations throughout County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36063/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Transport the daily passenger throughput and capacity at the Kilcock, Maynooth, Leixlip, Confey, Hazelhatch, Sallins, Newbridge, Kildare and Monasterevin railway stations; the extent to which it is expected to increase such volume in the near future; the amount of car parking currently available; the amount anticipated or required in the short term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36064/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Transport when he expects adequate parking adjacent to all railway stations to become available with particular reference to the need to encourage motorists onto rail transport thereby alleviating road traffic congestion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36068/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 67, 103, 197, 198 and 202 together.

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. These developments will be taking place at the same time as both intercity and commuter rail services are expanded over the coming years. However, information regarding passenger carryings and the capacity of services at each station is an operational matter for the company.

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. The largest of these are at Greystones, Coolmine, Kildare and Newbridge. In addition, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council operates a pay car park at Salthill station. Both Connolly and Heuston Stations have dedicated pay car parks for Intercity 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 at Galway.

Iarnród Éireann have been extending car parking facilities at all locations where Iarnród Éireann has land available. Over the past few 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. However, the actual capacity of car parking facilities is an operational matter for the company.

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. There are currently four park and ride sites along the existing Luas network at Red Cow, Sandyford, Stillorgan and Balally. The mode of transfer in each case is primarily between car and Luas.

The RPA proposes to open a new park and ride facility adjacent to the Luas Tallaght stop within the next two years.

There is a highly successful bus-based park and ride facility at Black Ash in Cork. This is currently the only bus-based park and ride facility in operation in the regional cities, but I understand that several authorities are considering possible sites.

The Dublin Transportation Office (DTO) continues to consider any opportunities that may arise for the development of bus-based park and ride facilities, where the facility provides a competitive journey time, compared with a similar journey by car.