No Enfield rail commuter parking for 18 months

A PROPOSAL by Iarnrod Eireann to provide parking facilities for rail commuters at Enfield train station in more than a year's time was criticised this week at a meeting of the Trim Area Council of Meath County Council.

The company had said it would put in the facilities in 2009 but this was unsatisfactory to councillors who felt they could be installed at an earlier date.

Colr Seamus Murray said that businessmen were being required to provide parking spaces at their premises. However, more often than not, when they arrived for work at 8am, they found these spaces taken up by the cars of commuters who were leaving them there and taking the train to Dublin.

The council should find some solution for people who had to do business right through the day, he said.

Colr William Carey said it had been a pity that a proposal to provide parking space at the ESB premises in the town had not worked out. He felt the only solution was for the council to lease one to two acres for the purpose of providing parking. They should also get in touch with the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey on the issue, he believed.

Colr Murray said that provision of parking spaces by Iarnrod Eireann by 2009 was "too late". He added: "Iarnrod Eireann and Bus Eireann have a responsibility to provide parking facilities for their customers."

Colr Jimmy Fegan said the question of the ESB property had not as yet been clarified. He believed that the Office of Public Works (OPW) was interested in purchasing the ESB site and he raised the possibility that the ESB might transfer its interest in the property to the OPW.

He felt that the date provided by Iarnrod Eireann was "too far away". However, there had been a proposal to provide parking spaces at Kilcock. "There was a lot done since the minister took office five months ago. He is acutely aware of the difficulties that commuters are suffering from," added Colr Fegan.

He said that not all the people taking up parking spaces were Iarnrod Eireann travellers. Some were travelling by Bus Eireann and private buses. "I don't think we can expect to look at the Department to solve the problem. Iarnrod Eireann will have to provide facilities for their own customers. I don't think that Iarnrod Eireann would countenance the minister coming to them and saying 'you should provide parking for customers of private buses'."

Colr Murray said he did not think the commuters cared who brought them to Dublin or who provided the parking as long as they got it. The company (Iarnrod Eireann) would have to reach some arrangement for parking, he felt.

Colr Phil Cantwell said that the people travelling to Dublin on a daily basis were taxpayers. "The least we can do is provide them with car parking space," he said.

They should go out of their way to provide safe car parking for these people at a rate of €2 a day, he said.