This article is from page 16 of the 2011-03-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
OFFICIALS from Ennis Town Council are to hold a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce with the aim of resolving parking issues in Ennis “once and for all”, Town Manager Ger Dollard has said.
Speaking at yesterday’s monthly meeting of Ennis Town Council, Mr Dollard said the meeting was being organised to address “actual or perceived problems” with parking in Ennis.
He said it was necessary to resolve the matter as ongoing criticism of parking policy in Ennis is doing a “great disservice” to the town.
Mr Dollard was speaking during a lengthy debate on new parking byelaws for Ennis, which heard calls for parking concessions to be given to Health Services Executive (HSE) workers in Ennis.
HSE staff have requested parking permits from the council, claiming the reduction in maximum stay car parks from three hours to two hours “would greatly inconvenience staff and patients accessing services at Francis Street and Bindon Street clinics.
Mr Dollard said that any decision to grant preferential treatment to one particular group in Ennis would, in his view, “be inappropriate and pos- sibly illegal”.
Mr Dollard said members of the executive would “strongly advise” against councillors amending the council’s draft parking byelaws to allow for the granting of parking permits to HSE workers.
Mr Dollard said that councillors had been informed of proposed changes to the council’s parking permits policy last November.
This was disputed by councillors who claimed that they had not been made aware that the changes would affect frontline HSE workers.
Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said that a concession for HSE workers had been in place since 1996.
Cllr Paul O’Shea (Lab) said the council should be working to support people who are working with the most vulnerable people in society.
The Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind), told the meeting that it would be easy for councillors to act in what he called a “populist” fashion to try and secure parking concession for different groups in Ennis.
Cllr Brennan said the issue of parking concessions had been discussed last year during the council’s discussions on the preparation of the 2011 budget.
He asked that if concessions are introduced, “where do we get the money to balance the budget”.
However Cllr Brennan said that solution could be found if council officials entered discussions with the HSE.
Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) said the workers are not “looking for a free pass” and are willing to pay for parking.
He urged the council to deal with cars owned by HSE workers in the same way they deal with ambulances and cars owned by doctors.
Mr Dollard said he would meet with the HSE prior to next month’s council meeting. The byelaws were subsequently passed.