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Government paying €10m a year on parking for public servants

OPW says that renting a Dublin parking space costs the state an average €2,428 a year.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM from the OPW to the Public Accounts Committee last week showed that the government owns 9,479 parking spaces, of which 3,291 are in Dublin and the remaining 6,188 are “regional owned”.

The document also shows that state rented 2,967 spaces in Dublin in February 2012, at an average cost per space of €2,428 a year.

The OPW says these spaces carry an annual cost of €7.2 million. A further 1,608 spaces are being leased by the government outside of Dublin at an average cost per space of €710 and an annual cost of €1.14 million, bringing the total annual bill for parking space leasing to €8.34 million.

However, the OPW also notes that it estimates that a further €2 million a year is spent on car parking costs:

On certain leases, we have no specified information on car parking costs (as it is included in the rent per annum). However, based on our average estimates, this could amount to an estimated additional value of €2m.

Parking levy

Commuters who park in Dublin, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford cities have to pay €200 a year for the use of their workplace parking space under the  parking levy announced by the government in 2008.

The measure was introduced by then-Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan in Budget 2009, but the commencement order which brings it into effect has never been signed.

Under the parking levy, employers are obliged to deduct the €200-per-space charge from their workers’ pay. Self-employed persons are exempt from the charge, but their employees are liable.

It was expected to be piloted in Dublin in January 2011 before being rolled out in full, but the commencement order was not signed by the Minister for Finance and the scheme did not get underway. They also said that the preparatory work has been done on the move and that it would not be difficult for the government to proceed with it.

Yesterday, Minister Brian Hayes told RTÉ News that he had called for a review of the plan and that he supports its introduction.

A spokesperson from the Department of Finance told TheJournal.ie today that the measure was introduced by the previous government and that the current government taking office did not consider it a priority at the time of taking office.

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25 Comments
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    Mute jimbo
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    Apr 24th 2012, 4:40 PM

    Make them pay like every one else does

    105
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    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
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    Apr 24th 2012, 6:35 PM

    Public spending increased by 75% from 2002-2007.
    Fredrik Erixon warns that the cost of returning to growth will be dismantling the welfare state. Yet government spending continues to increase (17% since 2007).
    No sign that this government can make any credible attempt to control spending.
    http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-18/to-thrive-euro-countries-must-cut-welfare-state.html

    19
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    Mute censored
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    Apr 24th 2012, 10:53 PM

    Nah, it’s ok. We’ll just keep paying for them. I’m proud that we have the best qualified and most highly paid public sector workers in the world. They’re too smart to pay the 200 euros parking charge that the rest of us are inflicted with.

    12
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    Mute Martin Sinnott
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    Apr 24th 2012, 4:32 PM

    TD get free parking for life in the Dail car park, how much dose this cost ?

    77
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    Mute John McGuirk
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    Apr 24th 2012, 5:25 PM

    The state owns the Dail. It costs nothing. But be sure to gripe about it anyway, in the best traditions of the permanently outraged journal commenter.

    80
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    Mute The Burning bush
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    Apr 24th 2012, 7:06 PM

    Ah John, it is so nice to see you condescend to share your thoughts with the common folk here at the Journal.ie. I myself felt rather warm and fuzzy when i realized I had been afforded an opportunity to share a post with such a venerable and altogether superior individual such as your self.

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    Mute Bernadette Dunne
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    Apr 24th 2012, 10:07 PM

    Meters in the Dail Car park

    17
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    Mute Niamh Leahy
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    Apr 24th 2012, 4:39 PM

    But, but I thought there was no money?

    75
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    Mute Stray Mutt
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    Apr 24th 2012, 5:12 PM

    There won’t be anymore money…if you vote NO.

    26
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    Mute Billie Hetfield
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    Apr 24th 2012, 4:51 PM

    I’m with Jimbo.

    A lot of the public servants are on a heap more money than us regular peeps. They can most afford these charges.

    There should be no expenses. You know what the job entails when you sign up. If I took a job in Kerry tomorrow I’d have to use my own money to get there.

    71
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    Mute Sandra Murphy
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    Apr 24th 2012, 7:50 PM

    Billie, most people in the public service ARE ‘regular peeps’.
    This is another classic case of government attempting to divert anger from themselves by opening up the old private vs public sector argument. We’re all in this together ‘peeps’.

    38
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    Mute Tokidoll
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    Apr 24th 2012, 9:11 PM

    If a public servant took a job in Kerry tomorrow they’d have to use their own money to get there. What’s your point + what has it to do with car parking spaces?

    27
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    Mute Tokidoll
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    Apr 24th 2012, 9:21 PM

    You’re bang on there Sandra, we are all in it together! Sadly it doesn’t matter how many stats are published showing that the majority of civil / public servants are on modest wages, it seems to suit people to persist with the belief that they’re all coining it in when this simply isn’t true! Sure when RTE ran this story on their website today it was accompanied by a picture of a parked BMW despite the fact that the vast vast majority of civil / public servants can only dream of ever owning one. And shame on RTE for implying otherwise

    21
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    Mute Martin Mac
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    Apr 24th 2012, 5:20 PM

    We are a disgusting corrupt back scratching little arrogant island!

    49
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    Mute greg skerries
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    Apr 24th 2012, 5:02 PM

    You can hardly expect civil servants to work on introducing this charge as they would be hit by it! My recollection is that TDs were exempt.

    29
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    Mute Eugene O'Rourke
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    Apr 24th 2012, 5:04 PM

    Just wondering does anyone know if the public servants in question pay BIK on the spaces?

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    Mute Nucky Thompson
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    Apr 24th 2012, 8:07 PM

    No. Nor should they.

    9
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    Mute Eugene O'Rourke
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    Apr 24th 2012, 8:35 PM

    Thanks for letting me know. But why should it be exempt from BIK as it is a perk that is a massive saving compared to using private car parks daily?

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    Mute Nucky Thompson
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    Apr 24th 2012, 8:47 PM
    2
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    Mute Eugene O'Rourke
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    Apr 24th 2012, 8:58 PM

    Thanks. Be interesting to see if they have the.stomach to review it.

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    Mute Eugene O'Rourke
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    Apr 24th 2012, 9:00 PM

    Thanks. Wonder if it will be part of the allowances reviews

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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Apr 24th 2012, 9:08 PM

    Eugene. Why would they pay BIK?

    If they are told they must own a car for their job/duties then they can’t be subject to BIK as its not exactly a benefit is it? In the way that having to pay whatever it costs to park for 9 hours a day isn’t fair on them either.

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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Apr 24th 2012, 9:09 PM

    @eugene

    I might not have made my point very well there. Hopefully you get the jist.

    I’m off for a pint.

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    Mute Eugene O'Rourke
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    Apr 24th 2012, 9:16 PM

    Tom. In that circumstance yes but if 9 to 5 office duties that is different. If there is adequate parking at the place of work then that is fine but where money is being paid out to the staff for private or public sector then there possibly should be BIK. Enjoy your pint

    3
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    Mute Martin Stapleton
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    Apr 24th 2012, 9:41 PM

    Another example of Public versus Private!
    Can Public Ireland please WAKE UP to reality!

    16
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