Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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171. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 339 of 11 June 2013 regarding parking in the lower yard of Dublin Castle, the steps that he and his officials are taking to incrementally reduce car parking at the said site until it is discontinued fully; if this process will be done when officials from the Revenue Commissioners, Comptroller and Auditor General's office, Office of Public Works, an Garda Síochána, Chester Beatty Library and Assay Office who currently have parking access retire; if he intends to remove parking access from current officials to ensure the longevity of the site, in view of the castle's historic importance; if he intends to do so, the date of same; when the last new car parking permit or access was given out for the lower yard of the castle and for what period of time; the criteria there is at present or will be in the future for the exceptional basis for parking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29057/13]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Car parking in the lower yard of Dublin Castle in being reduced incrementally in a number of ways. The lower yard is now free of cars at weekends and on bank holidays. Cars are no longer permitted to park in front of the Stamping Building and in the area near the Chapel Royal. These measures have been introduced in the last 6 months or so. Car parking within the Dublin Castle campus generally is by permit only. It is intended to reduce the overall numbers of permits over time in consultation with all relevant stakeholders. The retirement of officials has no bearing on the extent of permits allocated by the Office of Public Works to the Departments and Agencies occupying accommodation at Dublin Castle. Permits are generally allocated in a block to these Departments or Agencies and it is a matter for them to allocate individual permits. The Office of Public Works has no information as to when a Department or Agency last issued a permit to park in Dublin Castle. No specific permits are issued for the lower Castle yard. The type of exceptional event contemplated for the future would be, for example, State visits or other similar important events.