Plans to hike Dublin city centre on-street parking charges to €4 an hour is 'another outrage' in the middle of a cost of living crisis, a city councillor has claimed.
The council reportedly plans to hike charges across all zones from next year - with the most expensive 'yellow zone' increasing from €3.50 to €4 an hour.
Parking charges in the 'red zone' will also increase by 50c from €3 to €3.50.
The orange zone will see charges rise 10 cent to €1.80 per hour, while suburban villages in the 'blue zone' will also see an increase of 10c.
Dublin city centre parking zones by colour. Source: Dublin City CouncilIndependent Councillor for Dublin City South-East Mannix Flynn told Newstalk Breakfast the changes will hurt people trying to access the city centre.
"I was against this when it was first mentioned at the Transport and Traffic SPC [Strategic Policy Committee]," he said.
"I think it's another hostile act against those who are driving a car trying to get into town, trying to do their shopping, trying to bring their parents to hospitals, schools with their children, etc.
"I think that this is another outrage, particularly in relation to that fact that we are in cost of living crisis.
"If you go into town, for instance, where you're trying to support a restaurant, if you spend three hours in there that's a fairly substantial price.
"Notwithstanding the fact that most people want to use their cars because public transport is unsafe."
Composite image shows file photos of a Dublin Bus on College Green in Dublin city, and commuters on the Luas in Dublin. Picture by:Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ieCllr Flynn said reports of assaults on public transport are putting people off using it.
"Tens of thousands of people use public transport and they're not necessarily impacted by assault, but they do see an awful lot of assaults on public transport," he said.
"We know this from the constant Garda presence at the likes of the Luas... and indeed not too long ago on mainline trains.
"So much so that the Minister for Justice said they were going to actually have Gardaí at the train stations."
Private parking companies
Cllr Flynn said the money raised from the increase will not be going to the City Council.
"This goes to a private company, which is basically an on-street parking company who enforce the parking laws," he said.
"The private company get a franchise... they don't pay the City Council, the City Council pay them.
"The parking charges are only certain amount of the monies that go to the private companies.
"On many occasions, Dublin City Council would have to add more money for that particular service.
"The private parking companies collect the money, it goes to them, that's where it goes to, they do the enforcement," he added.
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