Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 298: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine his views on the introduction of parking charges by Iarnród Éireann at Gormanston Railway Station; if it is intended to introduce charges elsewhere on the Dublin to Drogheda line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22275/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The provision and management of car parking facilities at railway stations, including the imposition of charges, is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann.

However, I understand from Iarnród Éireann that as part of its upgrade of the railway system it has embarked on a major programme of upgrades to its park & ride facilities throughout the country. As new and upgraded car parks, such as Gormanston, are opened Iarnród Éireann has decided to introduce a pay and display facility, with nominal charges 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 have to use a car to access the station.

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

The charges are in line with the guiding principles for the implementation of rail-based park and ride sites 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 and those who benefit from park and ride should contribute to the cost of it.