COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

QUESTION NO. 13

QUESTION: Councillor A.M. Dermody

"To ask the Manager if he would support the view of Traders in the Rathfarnham village that strict enforcement of pay and display parking in the village is killing trade and that the Manager  accede to the request of traders in the village to visibly display signage that shows that there is no charge for parking for the first 10 minutes and to ask the Manager for a comparison in the revenue generated from traders in the village during the “boom years” as against the revenue generated during the “bust years” and lastly a comparison between the revenue generated from pay and display parking in comparison with revenue generated from rates paid by traders for the same period? "

REPLY:

Information signs which state, bi-lingually, “Drivers, please purchase and display a parking ticket within 10 minutes of arrival. Failure to display a parking ticket may result in a fine” are now under installation in Rathfarnham as previously agreed. There has never been a ‘free period’ however the 10 minute period is a “grace period” which is applied generally to allow those persons who might arrive at a pay station without the correct or any change to obtain some and pay for their parking. It is also likely that drivers might avail of this “grace period” to carry out their business but the onus is always on them to ensure that they have paid for their parking and they cannot then complain if they take a chance and avail of this “grace period” only to then overstay the grace period and incur a fine.

It should also be noted that in a number of cases, business premises have erected signs in their windows stating that the “first 10 minutes parking (is) free”. The Council has not objected to these signs being erected even though they are not factually correct. The Council is not responsible for and does not agree with such misleading signage.

All wardens allow the 10 minute grace period. If anyone feels that they have been unfairly treated by the actions of a warden, it is, of course, open to them to bring the facts of the matter directly to the attention of the Parking Unit in the Council.

The provision of pay and display parking is a mechanism to regulate the use of parking space to ensure maximum turnover of parking in the village to facilitate the commercial activities of the village and limit the all day parking which would hinder that.  

Not withstanding the above, it is noted that the parking areas in Rathfarnham are consistently well used with an appropriate number of free spaces to give a high level of certainty for parking space availability. The correct management of parking can only seek to ensure that the maximum use is made of the limited space available for parking. The consequential commercial dividend is beyond the scope of the parking operation. To ensure the maximum use occurs a tariff is placed on access to critical parking space on Main Street and thereby it is protected from economically low value parking. The tariff charged also encompasses the administration of the controlled parking operation. Prior to the introduction of controlled parking when essentially free parking existed extensive pressure existed for reform.

The rates received by the Council are provided below.

Rathfarnham Main Street addresses

Year	Rates Due ( incl arrears )	Rates Paid
2007	€                     662,881.38	€             487,485.52
2008	€                     668,028.11	€             530,570.17
2009	€                     611,996.62	€             409,276.68
2010	€                     661,784.57	€             473,959.89
2011	€                     642,181.62	€             325,602.38