Heated debate erupts over plans to introduce new parking levy

A DEBATE, which took place on Today With Claire Byrne discussed if the government should reconsider plans for a levy on workplace parking spaces.

The charge to the levy for a full year will be €200 where an employee has an ongoing entitlement to use a parking space. 

The levy was introduced in 2008 but due to public backlash it never materialised.

Recently, the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) has asked the government to look at bringing this back for discussion.

Where parking spaces are shared by employees, the levy is reduced to €100 where the ratio of the number of employees who have an entitlement to park to the number of parking spaces is two to one or more. 

The levy will not apply to disabled drivers or to employees of the emergency services in the context of responding to an emergency situation. 

Employers are required to deduct the levy throughout the year from employees’ net wages or salary.

Peadar Tóibín, party leader of Aontú said to Byrne: “I would have very little confidence this levy would remain at €200. Many people do want to reduce using their own car to get into work however it is not possible. Unless the government applies an alternative it will not work, especially in a cost of living crisis.”

“Public transport needs to be better. In Meath four to six buses are cancelled. You have a person trying to get to work on time and they may have been late several times and their job is now in jeopardy and as of this situation people are forced into a car.”