Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Transport the measures he is considering or are available to him to introduce a national policy or legislation specifically aimed at setting out the criteria by which areas here may be designated specifically as residents only parking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41979/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that parking problems arise on the roads in the environs of stadia such as Croke Park on match and other event days when a large influx of motorists from outside the area park on residential roads for the duration of the events. Last summer, I met with a deputation from local residents associations from the Croke Park environs and some local public representatives to hear their case.

On match and event days, the Garda Authorities put in place extensive traffic management plans. This includes a Garda cordon area for crowd safety controls and to regulate access. This has been put in place for many years now in respect of the streets in the immediate vicinity of Croke Park and Lansdowne Road when matches or other major events are held there. Divisional Garda Traffic Corps Units also patrol the outlying areas prior to and subsequent to any event ensuring the traffic flow is maintained.

Vehicle owners who reside within the Garda cordon area may apply for an annual permit to allow that vehicle to enter and exit through the cordon barriers. The regulation of access and residents permits measures are implemented and administered by the Garda Síochána, as are other traffic management and parking prohibitions that are applied in the greater Stadium area on event dates.

The issue being raised now is that residents on roads that lie outside of the existing cordon areas are seeking that parking be reserved on a Residents Only basis in their areas on match and event days and that vehicle permits and a visitors permit be issued in respect of each premises. This proposal, if accepted, would effectively prohibit or exclude the general public from parking on a public road.

The issue of reserving parking on public roads to local residents is very complex and is much broader than in the context of match days at Croke Park or Lansdowne Road stadia. The discussion and debate on this issue has also drawn attention to the fact that inconvenience can also be experienced by residents where parking congestion can arise on a daily basis on public roads in residential areas in other circumstances countrywide.

At some locations throughout the country, parking on residential roads is now taken up on a daily basis, and not just on periodic match or event dates, by motorists, who use the location to park if working nearby or to use the location as a 'park and ride facility' while they commute onwards by bus, rail or tram to work and collect their vehicle later that day on return. Legal advice on the matter has been sought from the Attorney General and the matter will be considered further when advice is received.