Galway West TD Noel Grealish (Ind ) has warned that any move to reduce the number of parking spaces at Galway’s two universities could seriously impact on students’ ability to attend college.
The Government’s Climate Action Plan 2024 sets a target of phasing out the use of parking in public buildings which have access to public transport services.
But Deputy Grealish said he was concerned about the effects such a reduction would have on students attending University of Galway and the Atlantic Technical University (ATU ) in the city.
“Everyone is well aware of the huge difficulties students face in finding rented accommodation in the city, so we have huge numbers who have no option but to commute to college every day from all over County Galway and beyond, says Grealish, who added that a substantial number of students don’t have access to bus or train connections.
“They have no choice but to drive to Galway – and there is so much demand for parking spaces as it is, any move to further reduce the number of spaces available would directly impact on their ability to attend third-level education,” says Grealish.
He pointed out that there are 2,270 spaces at the main UG carpark just north of the main campus, close to Corrib Village, which offers a park and ride facility to the rest of the college. “What kind of mayhem will ensue if these have to be withdrawn from use?” he asks.
“This issue about parking spaces to be reduced under the Climate Action Plan was raised in the media this week, and I would be seriously concerned about moves to implement it in Galway.
The Climate Action Plan targets the phasing out of the ‘use of parking in buildings that have access to a range of public transport services and active/shared mobility options for the majority of staff/visitors, while providing that sufficient accessible parking is maintained for those with physical mobility issues’.
Grealish maintains a lack of buses serving the two universities means they do not fulfil the requirement for ‘a range of public transport services’.
“Implementing the measure in Galway city would have a two-fold effect: increasing the number of cars parking in housing estates within walking distance of the colleges, with a resulting inconvenience for residents, and placing a barrier to access to third level education for young people in rural areas in particular,” added Deputy Grealish.
