Parking levy increase opposed
Town manager Tom Curran yesterday said the council had plans to provide 600 to 800 parking spaces in New Street — part of a suggested public/private partnership. “But, we need seed capital to allow that type of development to go ahead,” he stressed.
Mr Curran was replying to calls from some local councillors for a halt to increases on development levies, which are this year estimated to yield €1.8m.
The levies are used for infrastructural purposes in Killarney, including an inner relief road, street refurbishment and toilets.
There was opposition to a proposal from council management to increase the parking levy from €5,000 to €9,000 for developers unable to provide their own parking. Pointing out that it cost €27,000 to provide a parking space, Mr Curran said the proposed hike was “not unreasonable”.
However, Fianna Fáil councillor Brian O’Leary strongly opposed, saying it was ludicrous to seek such an increase when the number of parking spaces in Killarney was decreasing.
“It is totally and utterly unfair to charge people for parking that isn’t there,” he added.
Labour councillor Sean O’Grady claimed the €4,000 increase would sound the death knell of business development in Killarney town centre where shops had already closed.
He believed there was a need to discriminate in favour of businesses in the town which were coming under increasing pressure from new retail developments on the outskirts.
Councillors voted to leave the levy at €5,000.
