Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1851. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to develop a national policy to accommodate commuters who avail of car pooling or ride sharing, which includes a long-term strategy for the provision of car parking areas on link roads to national primary routes such as the M9 and N7 ensuring that the current practice of car parking on link roads is safe, legal and convenient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26356/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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My Department recognises the role car-pooling or car-sharing can play in reducing the number of cars on our roads and included a specific action - to establish a car-pooling website - in the national transport policy 'A Sustainable Transport Future for Ireland, 2009-2020'.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has implemented this action and established a car-sharing website, carsharing.ie, to help employers to encourage car-pooling within their workforces. The site acts as a matching tool for individuals looking to offer or seek lifts, on a once-off or a regular basis. The site is free to use by individuals, sports clubs, festival or event organisers and workplaces nationwide to set up their own car sharing groups. 

In line with its statutory mandate, the NTA published a Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) 2016-2035 earlier this year. The focus in the strategy on car parking facilities concentrates on Park and Ride facilities to provide the opportunity for modal transfer from the private car to the public transport network rather than parking for car-pooling.  It is intended that Park and Ride facilities will be provided to facilitate the use of the public transport network by people living beyond the local walking catchment of rail or other public transport services. 

The provision of car parking facilities is ultimately a matter for the relevant local authority working closely with An Garda Síochána to ensure that cars are parked in a safe and legal manner.  I understand that a number of small park and ride facilities have recently been completed in the Meath and Kildare County Council areas, are proving to be very successful, and could serve as useful models for other local authorities.