The matter raised in the question is a matter in which I, in my role as Minister with responsibility for planning, have no statutory function.
Financial decision making and the accountability of local authorities is a matter for the elected members of a local authority who have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which includes the adoption of the annual budget of the local authority.In this regard, section 103 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, provides for the local authority budgetary process. It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process, having regard to both locally identified needs and the funding resources available to the local authority. This includes the provision of local authority parking.
In addition, it is a matter for the elected members of the local authority to determine in accordance with section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended (the Act) and Article 80 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended for development where the estimated cost exceeds €126,000. This would include the provision of local authority parking. Where the cost does not exceed €126,000 it is a matter for the executive of the local authority.
