Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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116. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are any plans to review clamping laws for vehicles in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50353/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Road Traffic Act, as Minister for Transport I have powers to prescribe the amount of the charge to be paid for the removal of an immobilisation device on a vehicle clamped on a public road by a local authority parking enforcement agent. As my Department increased this release charge as recently as 2022, I have no plans to further amend this charge in the near future.

As relatively few local authorities employ clamping in parking enforcement, the bulk of clamping in Ireland is carried out by private clampers in private car parks. The regulation of private clamping, including the investigation of complaints and the administration of appeals, is a statutory function of the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015. If the Deputy's query concerns private clamping, she may wish to approach the Authority directly.