Fees revealed for new commuters carpark in Portlaoise
Parking fees for a huge new Laois carpark built to serve public transport users in Portlaoise have been set.
However they do not yet include a discount for regular commuters.
A 93 space public carpark is almost compete right next to Portlaoise train station which has had insufficient parking for years.
Portlaoise councillors approved the parking fees at their monthly meeting this Wednesday, June 21.
It will cost €4 to park for a 24 hour period, and €2 to park for up to three hours.
The council says it cannot be any cheaper, or it will simply empty out other carparks, leaving too little space for the train and bus users it is aimed at.
Director of Services with responsibility for Portlaoise is Simon Walton.
"The council will take possession of the new 93 space parkpark, likely over August or September. It will operate from that date. It was developed under the Urban Rehabilitation and Development Fund, the council gave €375,000 in matched funding," he said.
There will however be no clamping.
"It will be a public carpark the same as all the others in Portlaoise with enforcement in the normal way. Obviously it's location is a strong public transport link. it is also to attract longer stays for visitors to the town centre.
"We had specific regard to adjacent carparks used by people availing of public transport. Their daily charge is €4.50. If we set it too low, we'll be flooded with cars that had been parking in adjacent carparks," Mr Walton said.
Portlaoise councillors all warmly welcome the new carpark, but they want a monthly discount for commuters.
Cllr Thomasina Connell was disappointed to hear that the council did not survey train users.
"That would be €80 a month for someone to park there," she said.
Cllr Willie Aird suggests a fee of €2 for staying for six hours to help patients getting the train to appointments in Dublin hospitals.
"This was a golden opportunity to get parking for the railway station. But if you go to Dublin for say cancer treatment, three hours would be very tight," he said.
Cllr Marie Tuohy said an eight hour ticket would be more user friendly for hospital appointments.
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said it has been a 20 year wait, with train passengers coming back to find their cars clamped.
"Could we get a weekly or monthly rate? Say €12 a week or €30 a month. If you are on a low income going up and down daily, €20 a week is less than Dublin but do a trial," she said.
Mr Walton said he will come back in September at the next council meeting with a proposal for €30 a month, or €11 a week. In the meantime he said they will order machines for the fixed daily rates.
The carpark will include bus bays and free bicycle storage, targeted at turning Portlaoise into a low carbon public transport hub.
It is on land that was once part of the old St Mary's CBS playing fields, along with a new Clúid housing development to be complete before Christmas, providing 13 apartments and 54 houses for council tenants.