Labour criticises €200 parking levy

PARKING CHARGE:THE BUDGET proposal to impose a €200 charge on parking spaces for people who drive to work, has been criticised by the Labour Party.

Chairman of the Dublin City Council's Transport Committee Seán Kenny said he might have supported the idea if the money raised was redeployed for public transport measures. But he said it appeared to be a simple move to generate revenue.

It has also been criticised by Labour's local government spokesman Ciarán Lynch TD who said it defied the principle that it should be workable.

The measure, which the Government said will raise €5 million in 2009 and €10 million the following year, is to be implemented in the public service as well as the private sector.

But details of how the scheme will operate were scant yesterday, with the Department of Transport promising details today. The Budget explanatory document simply states: "A flat rate levy of €200 will be charged on employees whose employer provides them with car parking facilities. The levy will be confined to employer-provided car parking facilities in the main urban centres."

However, yesterday concern was expressed by callers to radio stations where shows were carrying items on the Budget. Many callers took issue with the definition of "urban centres" and said the move would require areas within the scheme to be clearly defined. Other callers said the level of monitoring would be very onerous.

Earlier this year, the Dublin City Business Association (DCBA) found that of almost 22,000 parking spaces in the city, about 13,000 were used by civil servants, most of whom DCBA said have free parking.

But Tom Coffey, chief executive of DCBA, said his organisation would support the levy - "on the basis that it applied to civil servants as well as everyone else".