Income from parking fees, permits and fines down 5 per cent
By Brendan Grehan
THE INCOME from parking fees, permits and fines collected by South Dublin County Council was down 5 per cent on the figures for 2017.
At the monthly meeting of SDCC, Councillor Trevor Gilligan tabled a question asking the Chief Executive, “how much has the council received in 2018 and 2017 in parking fees, broken down in electoral areas?” Cllr Gilligan also asked “how much has been received in parking fines?”
Parking meter in Clondalkin
The Council replied that in 2017, they received - €453,058.01 in parking fees, €12,296.28 in parking permits, and €261,807 in parking fines, making a total of €727,161.29 for 2017.
In 2018, SDCC received €407,819.59 in parking fees, €15,280.20 in parking permits and €266,299.37 in parking fines, making a total of €689,399.16 for 2018.
The Council were unable to provide a breakdown by electoral areas.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Gilligan noted that while the overall figures are down on 2017, the number of fines has gone up to €266,000.
He said: “This is a staggering amount of fees to take in. These figures represent the entire South Dublin area.
“I am calling on all councils to make sure that motorists are fully aware of any parking charges, grace periods, pay for parking times so that motorists are not caught unaware of any fees or fines and that there is clear signage where there is pay for parking.”
Cllr Gilligan also stressed to The Echo the importance that motorists should be aware if they feel that they have been wrongly fined.
He added: “They can appeal such notices within 28 days with any proof that they have been wrongly fined.”
