Buncrana Free Half-Hour at risk as county parking fees could rise

A public consultation on parking charges in Buncrana is set to take place at the end of March or early April as part of a county-wide review by Donegal County Council.

The consultation will examine on-street parking arrangements in towns across Donegal where motorists currently pay to park. As part of the review, the council will host a drop-in session in Buncrana to gather feedback from businesses, residents, and other stakeholders on the operation of the town’s parking regime.

It is understood that the local authority is considering some changes, including removing the free half-hour parking period, increasing current charges and altering the areas where fees apply.

Parking charges were first introduced in Buncrana in 2007 by Buncrana Town Council and have remained unchanged for almost two decades.

Following the consultation period, recommendations from council executives will be presented to members of the Inishowen Municipal District for a vote.

South Inishowen councillor Fionán Bradley said he intends to consider public feedback carefully before deciding how to vote. While he indicated he would be in favour of increasing parking charges, he stressed he would be “100% against” abolishing the free half-hour period.

“The reason that I would be in favour of increasing them is that the only money that Donegal County Council collects that we can ring-fence in Buncrana, for Buncrana, is the money that we collect in parking charges.”

While acknowledging that any increase would represent a significant change, Cllr Bradley noted that the current rate of 50 cents has remained in place for 19 years. He suggested that increasing the charge to €1 would not be unreasonable.

“I know it is doubling, I accept that. But from a very low base, I don’t think 50 cent is that much in today’s money,” he said.

However, he emphasised that he wants to hear the views of the public before making a final decision.

“If there’s a thousand very good reasons as to why we shouldn’t increase the charges, well then I’ll listen to them and take the point on board. Most people I talk to don’t realise that it’s the only money we can ring-fence for Buncrana.”

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Details of the consultation dates and the Buncrana drop-in session are expected to be announced by Donegal County Council in the coming weeks.