Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 493: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of car park spaces available nationally to those working in his Department and in the bodies and agencies under the aegis of his Department; the annual cost of car park spaces rented by his Department and the bodies and agencies under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11891/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The number of parking spaces available nationally to the staff working in my Department is 284. These are distributed across nine buildings in Dublin, Balbriggan and Limerick. The Office of Public Works is responsible for the rental of premises occupied by my Department and costs incurred are a matter for that office. The Department promotes the use of public transport for travel to work by supporting the Civil Service Tax Saver Commuter Ticket Scheme. In allocating parking spaces, priority is given to those officers who are regularly required to work outside normal office hours, (this includes the senior management of the Department and certain staff of the Minister's Offices and the Press and Protocol Divisions). Spaces are also allocated to those with a physical disability and, on a six-month temporary basis, to pregnant officers. Three spaces are reserved for the Department's Delivery Vans. Thereafter, spaces are allocated in accordance with a waiting list, with most officers waiting for a period of six years. Spaces are rotated when officers are posted abroad. This policy is kept under regular review.