Seanad Debate

CoyleJames

There is a proposal being presented to city councillors this week which will see the elimination of any free parking spaces still available on side streets in Dublin city centre between the canals.

This should be fought at all costs by both residents and traders! The profit from paid parking is in the order of €10 million per annum in Dublin. However as a result the lost revenue to retailers dwarfs this.

Please give me your comments.

Best wishes

James

CoyleJames

What if the council was more creative in it's thinking on parking in Dublin city centre.

Why don’t they open up some of the large empty spaces in and around the city centre for weekend / evening parking like the glass bottle site at Ringsend?

There does not seem like much thought has gone into this!

Shame really as we need to encourage people into the city to help support our already beleaguered shops and businesses.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Best

James

CoyleJames

Ben Dunne found corrupt by the McCracken Tribunal because of influencing rent reviews with Lowry!

murphaph

Why would they need to open up the glass bottle site for parking in the evenings and weekends? There's loads of carparking spaces in the city as it is, too many in fact.

Cookie_Monster

CoyleJames wrote: »

Ben Dunne found corrupt by the McCracken Tribunal because of influencing rent reviews with Lowry!

what has that got to do with parking. also there's already a thread on this here.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056215011

CoyleJames

Do you know how much it costs to park all day in Dublin city centre? Anything from 15 to 50 euros! It's a fact that women, especially young mothers won't use public transport to travel from the suburbs, it's just to much hassle for them.
They need to drive into town, why can't we encourage people to shop by freeing up unused space in the city where a low or zero tariff is charged for parking. We need to save our city shops, we need to encourage city shopping, not just through the use of public transport. If you walk down Dame St. today you will notice around one third of the shops are boarded up / closed. And check out George Street, the Temple Bar and even Grafton street, there a lot of closed businesses! That's a lot of council rates to loose, MILLIONS of Euros. Why can't the council be more creative in the way the support business, who after all finance them.

Aard

You know why the city centre isn't so attractive? Suburban shopping centres. Price of parking plays a small part only. How much does it cost in Dundrum? About 2 euro an hour, and no shortage of women with children in there.

At a time when most cities are discouraging city center driving, you're encouraging it.

Read some Jan Gehl. More cars parked in town discourages pedestrians, discourages city centre staying-power, and ultimately sucks the life out of it. Sure, you'll have people driving in to shop, but beyond pedestrian areas there's no incentive to stay. You bring up Dame St -- have you seen how difficult it is to cross? Or how narrow the path is? No wonder it's all boarded up; there's no reason for people to hang around too long. If you want life in the city, you need to make it attractive for shoppers. Cars don't buy things; people do. Cars act as obstructions and deterrents. For people to shop, they have to be invited by safety.

dowlingm

CoyleJames seems to be attention seeking. For one thing, he's headed an Infrastructure thread "Seanad Debate" (oh, I see it was moved to C&T since it popped up in my RSS reader)

BrianD

CoyleJames wrote: »

There is a proposal being presented to city councillors this week which will see the elimination of any free parking spaces still available on side streets in Dublin city centre between the canals.

This should be fought at all costs by both residents and traders! The profit from paid parking is in the order of €10 million per annum in Dublin. However as a result the lost revenue to retailers dwarfs this.

Please give me your comments.

Best wishes

James

James, I'm confused. Why would a parking matter end up in the Seanad to be debated?

Any of the "profit" from parking goes back into the coffers.

The imposition of more P&D spaces actually makes more parking spaces available in the city centre!

Why don’t they open up some of the large empty spaces in and around the city centre for weekend / evening parking like the glass bottle site at Ringsend?

Wouldn't the same "mothers with young children" not be petrified of parking in a building site and then getting public transport into town?

In fact, public transport is actually more advantageous for "mother and child" commute. Go off peak, wheel the buggy straight onto most buses/trans/trains wheel off the other end. No folding up and packing required!

Furthermore, most people don't spend an entire day in the city. Most would be able to park close to their destination for a few hours.

The boarded up shops is not due to a lack of car borne shoppers. It's simply down to shoppers with less spending power and high rents on the business side.

You need to get out of the roller more often!

dowlingm

Sure the best free parking in Dublin is in the Seanad, as evidenced by the crony appointments for a few days at election time so they get parking for life!

monument

CoyleJames wrote: »

If you walk down Dame St. today you will notice around one third of the shops are boarded up / closed. And check out George Street, the Temple Bar and even Grafton street, there a lot of closed businesses! That's a lot of council rates to loose, MILLIONS of Euros. Why can't the council be more creative in the way the support business, who after all finance them.

Really? One third of shops on Dame Street? George Street has always been a bit of a basket case, even in far better times. How many shops are closed these now? Grafton Street has a known problem with high rents.

High rents in general is the largest problem for retailers and other businesses, but yet some people seem unusually focused on transport. The bus gate, the 30km/h limit, parking, the list goes on.

High rents, the lack of rent control and upward-only rent reviews is the main problem faced by businesses.

People not having the spending power they used to is also a problem, but that can be partly solved by lower or more stable rents.

CoyleJames

Interesting Feedback On The Parking Issues. Let's see what the views on compulsory Irish are.

I’m a big supporter of compulsory Irish but I also believe the Leaving Certificate curriculum should be loosened up and expanded to include more conversation, music and dance. These might be alternative exam streams in Irish in the Leaving Certificate.

As to Irish being compulsory for entry into university, it possibly should be, but obviously for Irish residents only and there should be exemptions granted for students with learning difficulties, etc.

Judgement Day

CoyleJames wrote: »

Interesting Feedback On The Parking Issues. Let's see what the views on compulsory Irish are.

I’m a big supporter of compulsory Irish but I also believe the Leaving Certificate curriculum should be loosened up and expanded to include more conversation, music and dance. These might be alternative exam streams in Irish in the Leaving Certificate.

As to Irish being compulsory for entry into university, it possibly should be, but obviously for Irish residents only and there should be exemptions granted for students with learning difficulties, etc.

Why are you posting about Irish in the C&T Forum?

CoyleJames

Thanks

Cookie_Monster

Judgement Day wrote: »

Why are you posting about Irish in the C&T Forum?

maybe they'll make it optional on road signs and displays too :pac:

AlekSmart

CoyleJames wrote: »

Interesting Feedback On The Parking Issues. Let's see what the views on compulsory Irish are.

As to Irish being compulsory for entry into university, it possibly should be, but obviously for Irish residents only and there should be exemptions granted for students with learning difficulties, etc.[/QUOTE]

Ah the eternal Irish answer to establishing and/or maintaining standards in anything.....not to rob Brendan Behan of his quote,but to adjust it a little...."The first item on the agenda is the exemption"

Aard

Hey James, is this you: http://www.jamescoyle.ie/wpb/ ?

If so, you might want to read up a bit on social-media marketing before you launch yourself in earnest. On an on-topic note, you say on the above site that you want to "fight urban decay". Maybe you should revise your policy in light of your stance on decay-inducing urban driving.

CoyleJames

Car's are a big part of our life. We need to find the right balance. We need to look at motorist's as a positive part of our community and economy.

I don't won't Dublin city on any other jammed up with cars. No-one does.

I just feel that the local council treat motorist's poorly, and have no real creative and positive vision for the parking in the cities.

I've spoken to shop owners who say hi parking rates are killing business.

All this talk of mothers and their 2 / 3 kids coming into town on public transport as a hassle free journey is nonsense.

Why don't the council / Seanad and government free up their car parks at the weekend exclusively for mother's and their kids!

BrianD

CoyleJames wrote: »

Car's are a big part of our life. We need to find the right balance. We need to look at motorist's as a positive part of our community and economy.

I don't won't Dublin city on any other jammed up with cars. No-one does.

I just feel that the local council treat motorist's poorly, and have no real creative and positive vision for the parking in the cities.

I've spoken to shop owners who say hi parking rates are killing business.

All this talk of mothers and their 2 / 3 kids coming into town on public transport as a hassle free journey is nonsense.

Why don't the council / Seanad and government free up their car parks at the weekend exclusively for mother's and their kids!

I don't see how you can come to the conclusion. There are 33,000 P&D spaces in the city (many free outside of peak hours) and the Government has in the past given generous tax breaks to private multi-story car parks. Where's the evidence that DCC treat motorists poorly?

Perhaps now you should include these car parks within your policy. All of these benefited from tax breaks so now's the time for them to chip in. Ask them to go free as well.

These spaces have to be managed for demand and charging is the way to do this. You can be guaranteed if the charges were removed that these spaces would be taken by business owners, their staff and residents. Mr Shopkeeper would be looking out the door at his motor and those of his staff lining the street.

I do not believe for one moment that the parking charges levied by DCC have any influence on people coming into the city.

I can tell you something, I couldn't think of anything more uncreative then thinking that the solution is to provide some free parking?

Anyway, any mother going anywhere on public or private transport with 2-3 kids is going to be a hassle. You might would to look at the real problems rather than the perceived.

Also James, you need to ask yourself, why would the Seanad have anything to do with a local issue such as parking? We have county councils for a reason. THe Seanad is for matters of national importance.

Aard

Wow, James, you just completely ignored the points I made. A true politician! That's it -- stick to your guns, fingers in the ears, and "la la la" til you've got your seat!

Cookie_Monster

CoyleJames wrote: »

I've spoken to shop owners who say hi parking rates are killing business.!

ah right, it's not the high rents, high rates, bureaucracy & red tape, stupidly high wages, rip off prices or location. It's just the parking rates...

HivemindXX

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

ah right, it's not the high rents, high rates, bureaucracy & red tape, stupidly high wages, rip off prices or location. It's just the parking rates...

No, no, no. It not just the parking rates it's all of the above, plus lack of good roads to their business, too many good roads going past their business, not enough police keeping undesirables away and too many police stopping people parking illegally to run in to the shop "just for a minute".

I think there are plenty of parking spaces in the city and lots of nice signs making it easy for people to see where these spaces are. If the point is that it's expensive to drive your car in to the very centre of the city and park it all day (and I think it is) I don't see that as a problem.

I'd be quite interested in seeing the cost to park a car all day in the centre of other major cities around Europe. Can you provide some figures?

Cookie_Monster

HivemindXX wrote: »

Can you provide some figures?

I could, but I'd just be making them up.

dowlingm

I just discovered the ignore list after a long time on boards. Given some of the head the balls on here over the years it took a real numpty to drive me to it. Well done, CoyleJames!

CoyleJames

I take offence on personal slagging. Were having a debate.

As I said previously

"There is a proposal being presented to city councillors this week which will see the elimination of any free parking spaces still available on side streets in Dublin city centre between the canals."

Here's a story about parking in Belfast from the Belfast Telegraph.

Shoppers driven out of town by parking policy
Three out of four households have access to a car but congestion measures in our town and city centres favour retail giants and threaten our small businesses, says Glyn Roberts

Here's a segment - The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) is concerned at new proposals to introduce additional car parking charges for 30 of our towns by the DRD, with the threat of a £90 fine for anyone who contravenes the restrictions. These proposals, in our view, can only be described as a stealth tax on town-centre shopping at a time when we need to be doing more to incentivise shoppers to visit our town and city centres.

In addition, this will increase a growing trend toward out-of-town multiple supermarkets that already boast free parking. This issue has not been addressed by the DRD.


Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/shoppers-driven-out-of-town-by-parking-policy-15122147.html

It's not just a Dublin issue.

Aard

And again, you haven't addressed my main point: there are other ways of enticing people to the city centre than free parking. Pedestrian-friendliness is far and away number one. Then cycle-friendliness. The idea is that fewer people spending a lot of time is so much better than a lot of people for a little time. "Staying-power" gives security, community, whereas the essence of the car is a lifeless in-and-out job.

I'll stop there, because evidently this is not what you want to hear, and as such you are unlikely to respond, again.

CoyleJames

I think your points are fair.

Pedestrian friendliness is a good thing but like bikes and I think the bike scheme is brilliant we still have the problem of that large portion of the shopping community who live out of the city centre needing to get into town and get out with the goods they've bought.

Try bringing that new bedside lamp back on your push bike to Black Rock!

The city centre community is vital to the city and these people can manage with walking, buses and bikes and that's great.

I'm talking about the vitally important out of town shoppers who are the mainstay business in the city.

We don't wan't to see our city centre die due to lack of business. Which is happening.

Parking is one issue and of course rates, rents and the like are other important factors.

Aard

CoyleJames wrote: »

I think your points are fair.

Thanks.

Pedestrian friendliness is a good thing but like bikes and I think the bike scheme is brilliant we still have the problem of that large portion of the shopping community who live out of the city centre needing to get into town and get out with the goods they've bought.

It seems as though you think the city centre is already pedestrian/bike friendly. It's not, especially for the latter.

I understand the problem of suburbanites getting in and out, but there already is parking, even if it is expensive. But it's most spaces are taken most of the time as it is. Lowering prices is just going to be advantageous for those who get there first: city centre workers. It would barely have any impact on shoppers, least of all your hallowed mother-with-two-kids.

Try bringing that new bedside lamp back on your push bike to Black Rock!

This may be facetious, but chances are the Blackrock shopper will simply park in Brown Thomas.

The city centre community is vital to the city and these people can manage with walking, buses and bikes and that's great.

Ha. Yes, perhaps they can "manage" now, but by increasing the number of cars in the centre, you basically negate any good they have now.

I'm talking about the vitally important out of town shoppers who are the mainstay business in the city.

"Out of town". You've got it in one. Why would the leave their cosy suburban Mega Mall to drive into an already traffic-clogged city centre? Your idea would add even more cars and traffic -- very encouraging for out of towners...!

We don't wan't to see our city centre die due to lack of business. Which is happening.

Yes, it's happening. But not for the reasons you state.

Parking is one issue and of course rates, rents and the like are other important factors.

Voilà. Cost of doing business is the only factor to be making a stink about. "More free parking" is just vote-whoring.

===

Look, I realise you're trying to do good. But the policies you're peddling are just the kind of populism that has created many current problems already. Break from the easy vote, please, and help the city.

CoyleJames

It seems as though you think the city centre is already pedestrian/bike friendly. It's not, especially for the latter.

I understand the problem of suburbanites getting in and out, but there already is parking, even if it is expensive. But it's most spaces are taken most of the time as it is. Lowering prices is just going to be advantageous for those who get there first: city centre workers. It would barely have any impact on shoppers, least of all your hallowed mother-with-two-kids.

In terms of pedestrian / friendly it's a lot better than it was, that's got to be good thing.

I'm not advocating free / cheap parking all week only evenings and weekends.

Ha. Yes, perhaps they can "manage" now, but by increasing the number of cars in the centre, you basically negate any good they have now.

Yes but weekend and evenings only. I guess quite a few city centre residents leave the city at the weekends, there is a balance to be had.

"Out of town". You've got it in one. Why would the leave their cosy suburban Mega Mall to drive into an already traffic-clogged city centre? Your idea would add even more cars and traffic -- very encouraging for out of towners...!

Again weekends and evenings only, and many 'Out Of Town' people want to visit the city centre, to shop, eat, for cutlure and to enjoy the city centre experience. There is so much more on offer than a edge of the city shopping mall. That means families, kids and ultimately car's.

It's one issue I feel strongly about.

There are plenty more topics to talk about.

Here's my 7 Point Fitness Plan.

1. SAVE & CREATE JOBS

Get extra credit to SME’s.
Halve Local Authority business rates.
Establish a Rent Review Board to allow businesses change to short leases without upward only rent review clauses.
Cut Employers’ PRSI.
Give tax credits to Employers for creating new jobs.
Offer tax relief for investing in SME’s and start ups.

2. REFORM GOVERNMENT & REDUCE ITS EXPENDITURE

Get Local Authorities to cut their staff costs by one third.
Halve the Budget for the Seanad.
Implement most of the ‘An Bord Snip Nua’ recommendations.
Encourage unions to achieve more efficient Public Service.
Reduce the number of Local Authorities from 34 to 22.
Make Local Authorities publish detailed quarterly accounts.
Listen to citizens via online constituency forums and text polls.
Less TD’s, less Ministers, no special advisers, less cars and aircraft, and less politicians’ expenses, severance pay and pensions.
More transparency and freedom of information.

3. FIX THE BANKING SYSTEM

Open negotiations with senior bondholders to help restructure Ireland’s mountain of debt.
Bring charges against rogue bankers and negligent public servants.
Open a new Industrial Credit Bank.
Open negotiations with senior bondholders to help restructure Ireland’s mountain of debt.
Bring charges against rogue bankers and negligent public servants.
Open a new Industrial Credit Bank.

4. OPTIMISE OUR HEALTH SERVICE

Don’t close good, efficient local hospitals.
Retain St. Luke’s Cancer Hospital in Rathgar as a satellite of the new St. James’s unit.
Employ our newly qualified doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and other medical staff and don’t force them to emigrate.

5. PROMOTE CULTURE & TOURISM

Retain compulsory Irish but completely relax and extend the curriculum to include music, poetry, dance and conversation options.
Fast track Gaelscoileanna.
Restore full funding to the Arts sector.
Fight Urban Decay.

6. IMPROVE OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM

Review and re-structure third level funding and management.
Focus on training students for the jobs of tomorrow.
Use college buildings and sports facilities to their utmost.

7. MAXIMISE USE OF STATE RESOURCES

List and value all State Assets.
Allow citizens use these assets.
Re-think the use of the Army and Gardai.
Shorten term of Natural Resource licences.

Aard

(Your 7-point plan is irrelevant to this forum. Try Politics / Irish Economy.)

I see that you feel passionate about this issue; likewise I do too. The only thing is that your argument falls apart fast. There already *is* cheap parking in the city centre. IIRC Stephen's Green has competitive all-day rates. Your evening and weekend idea is pretty much already in place at the moment.

I get it that this is in response to DCC's idea of implementing intra-canals Pay and Display. Your argument concerns shoppers (and now, it seems, recreation). Generally shoppers are expecting to spend money. I could argue about shoppers spending ridiculous money on all kinds of non-essentials, but that whole line of thinking is putting the cart before the horse. Bringing in cars cheaply to the detriment of a safe and non-polluting environment (noise and fumes mostly) is cutting off your nose to spite your face. One problem gone, another appearing!

Spend your efforts on where the problem lies: poor planning, and poor transport/mobility.

markpb

CoyleJames wrote: »

It's one issue I feel strongly about.

If you feel so strongly about it, why are you running for Seanad and not DCC?

CoyleJames

Good talking to you...Will take your points on board.

Cookie_Monster

CoyleJames wrote: »

Here's my 7 Point Fitness Plan.

1. SAVE & CREATE JOBS

Get extra credit to SME’s. How? From where, the banks have no money left
Halve Local Authority business rates.While I support this do you have any alternative as to how the council will raise the required funding or cut costs without impacting heavily on services to balance the income drop
Establish a Rent Review Board to allow businesses change to short leases without upward only rent review clauses.so another useless toothless quango, this can be done by business/LL themselves without forced state interfearence
Cut Employers’ PRSI.has/will happen anyway
Give tax credits to Employers for creating new jobs.as well as the PRSI reduction - seems overly generous to me
Offer tax relief for investing in SME’s and start ups.there is already 3 years CT exemption for this, are you proposing more or is this just a soundbyte without having checked the figures?

2. REFORM GOVERNMENT & REDUCE ITS EXPENDITURE

Get Local Authorities to cut their staff costs by one third.any detail of how they should do this or is it just a pie in the sky target?
Halve the Budget for the Seanad.would this invole reducing numbers or expenses or running costs? - good idea anyway
Implement most of the ‘An Bord Snip Nua’ recommendations.
Encourage unions to achieve more efficient Public Service.encourage how, what will you offer them in return that the ridiculous CPA hasn't already given them in return for nothing to date?
Reduce the number of Local Authorities from 34 to 22.removing which ones and why and why not more?
Make Local Authorities publish detailed quarterly accounts.good call but will no doubt face commercial sensitivity calls and not be allowed
Listen to citizens via online constituency forums and text polls.
Less TD’s, less Ministers, no special advisers, less cars and aircraft, and less politicians’ expenses, severance pay and pensions.
More transparency and freedom of information.

3. FIX THE BANKING SYSTEM
no comment

4. OPTIMISE OUR HEALTH SERVICE

Don’t close good, efficient local hospitals.
Retain St. Luke’s Cancer Hospital in Rathgar as a satellite of the new St. James’s unit.
Employ our newly qualified doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and other medical staff and don’t force them to emigrate.with what money and at what cost, are you going to employ them on the same super salary scales they are on currently just so they don't go abroad

5. PROMOTE CULTURE & TOURISM

Retain compulsory Irish but completely relax and extend the curriculum to include music, poetry, dance and conversation options
Fast track Gaelscoileanna.to what end, further subsidising a minority language over other areas of eduction that need much greater support such as remedial, maths and special needs
Restore full funding to the Arts sector.
Fight Urban Decay.again, very broad with little meaning, care to elaborate?

6. IMPROVE OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM

Review and re-structure third level funding and management.
Focus on training students for the jobs of tomorrow.
Use college buildings and sports facilities to their utmost.
again, very broad soundbytes with little meaning

7. MAXIMISE USE OF STATE RESOURCES

List and value all State Assets.
Allow citizens use these assets.I don't get this, can you give some examples of what you mean? we already have free access to state forests for example but what else?
Re-think the use of the Army and Gardai.bit vague again, re think how and to what end
Shorten term of Natural Resource licences.the shorter the term, the less time companies have to make back thier (usually) considerable investment and the less likely they are to accept licences or the more they will charge for the resource

The red are some comments I've made, would be interested to hear further on some of the subjects...
Sorry if OT, maybe a mod can boot it to a separate thread (forum) if needed...

CoyleJames

I did run for council in the last elections. That was the beginning for me. I have to build up a presence on the political landscape and see running for the Seanad as another opportunity to do that.

Aard

Typical. James, one thing I had hoped would be learnt from the last election was that a politician respect the remit of his government tier. If you want to be a Senator, it would be kosher to abandon any local leanings. It seems that the Parish Pump is still gushing with lamentable tradition.

-Chris-

Thread closed because it's far more about James Coyle than Commuting & Transport.

James, if you want to continue to use boards.ie to discuss issues, please try and keep to one issue per thread, and don't bother with the disingenuous thread titles - they'll do your credibility more harm than good.
Also, if a thread already exists on a subject please contribute to that thread rather than starting your own. The Search function is your friend.

If you want to use boards.ie as "James Coyle, Political Hopeful" you need to contact hello@boards.ie so they can verify your account.