Council details parking control powers in Kildare
Photo for illustrative purposes only
THE COUNCIL’s parking enforcement power in taken-in-charge estates and public streets across the Kildare-Newbridge MD was outlined at a recent meeting.
Independent councillor Pat Balfe asked the council to outline the legal status of parking control in estates where roads have been taken in charge by the local authority, including the council’s enforcement powers, the introduction of restrictions such as double yellow lines, disabled bays and permit systems, and the role residents’ associations may have in requesting or managing parking controls.
In response, a council representative said that parking regulations can be enforced on any public road or residential area where the road has been taken in charge by the council.
Areas covered under an official parking byelaw are monitored by the council’s appointed contractor during designated enforcement hours approved by elected members. Outside those hours, responsibility for illegal parking falls to An Garda Síochána.
The council stated that taken-in-charge estates outside parking bye-law zones are monitored by the council’s Community and Traffic Wardens.
However, officials noted it is not possible for wardens to patrol all such areas daily because of the size of the county and the number of locations under their remit.
According to the report, wardens can enforce a range of road traffic offences under the Road Traffic Regulations 1997, including illegal parking on double or single yellow lines, blocking entrances, causing obstructions, parking in accessible bays without a valid blue badge, and failing to display current road tax.
Enforcement generally applies between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, with Gardaí responsible outside those hours.
The council also clarified that residential permit parking schemes can only operate within areas covered by a parking bye-law.
Officials stressed that holding a residential permit does not guarantee a designated parking space, as public road parking cannot legally be reserved exclusively for residents.
The report further stated that any enforcement of road traffic regulations or parking bye-laws requires the correct road markings and signage in accordance with the Department of Transport’s Traffic Signs Manual.
Residents or members of the public may request road markings through the council’s Transportation Department in areas outside existing parking bye-law zones.
However, the council noted that new road markings cannot be introduced in areas already covered by a parking bye-law without a full statutory public consultation process to amend the bye-law.
