Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 241: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government proposal to provide park and ride services in all appropriate locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28652/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to provide park and ride services in all appropriate locations.

The provision of car parking at railway stations is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in conjunction with local authorities. I understand that Iarnród Éireann have begun a network-wide programme of expanding existing or developing new car parks, with the assistance of Exchequer funding, to cater for record demand.

Within the past year car parks have opened/been extended at eight train stations namely Leixlip Louisa Bridge, Mallow, Ennis, Tullamore, Arklow, Limerick, Hazelhatch and Gormanston resulting in over 1,350 extra car parking spaces. New car parks are also due to open at Newbridge, Rush and Lusk, Portarlington, Carlow and Limerick Junction over the next eighteen months. I understand that Iarnród Éireann is currently examining a number of other locations for their suitability for expansion. To date Exchequer funding of €21m has been allocated for the car park expansion programme.

There are currently five Park and Ride sites along the existing Luas network at Red Cow, Sandyford, Stillorgan, Balally and Tallaght.

The Luas Park and Ride facility at Sandyford is currently closed to facilitate work on the extension of the Luas Green Line to Cherrywood. When the Luas extension to Cherrywood is complete, the Sandyford Park and Ride will re-open but with a reduced capacity for around 45 cars.

The RPA is in discussion with a private developer and Dún-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council on the provision of a P&R facility at Carrickmines in the context of the Luas extension to Cherrywood which is currently under construction.

The planned extension of the Luas Red Line to Citywest provides for a Park and Ride facility at Cheeverstown.

Metro North, which will run from St. Stephen's Green to Swords via Dublin Airport, will have 3 P&R sites. These will be located at Lissenhall, north of Swords, Metropark, between the Airport and the M50, and Fosterstown, south of Swords.

The preferred route for the further extension of the Green line from Cherrywood to the Bray area provides for a P&R facility at Fassaroe.

The preferred route corridor for Metro West was announced in July 2007 and the RPA hopes to provide Park and Ride facilities at a number of key locations where this Metro meets major road corridors. In particular RPA hope to provide Park and Ride facilities from the N2 (Ashbourne) at the Huntstown stop, N3 (Navan) at the Blanchardstown stop and N4 (Lucan) at the Liffey Valley stop. Additional facilities might also be provided at other locations.

I have made funding available to local authorities in the Greater Dublin Area to provide park and ride facilities. It is a matter for the local authorities to develop proposals and to apply for funding. To date I have received no such applications. However, the local authorities in question are continuing to explore the possibilities for such facilities. In this regard, An Bord Pleanála recently refused planning permission for a proposed facility on the N4 for South Dublin County Council.

I have also made funding available in the regional cities for bus priority and park and ride facilities. It is a matter for the local authorities to develop proposals and apply for funding.

Funding has bee provided to Cork City Council for a successful park and ride facility at Black Ash, and my Department has recently received a preliminary application for funding from the Council for a similar facility on the Western side of Cork City.

I understand that other regional cities are also seeking to develop proposals, taking account of the constraints of obtaining suitable sites.