Five Cities To See Parking Levy By 2009

The new €200 workplace parking levy will be introduced in five cities from next January, according to an announcement today.

The Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan announced the levy on Budget day last month, but it has been revealed that from January next year, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford will be operating the levy.

The policy will cover more than 50,000 car park spaces across the private and public sectors.

The €200 will be deducted from workers payrolls by employers parking in the five cities, although there will be special concessions for part-time workers and shift workers, while drivers with disabilities will be exempted from the measure.

Employees who share car parking spaces will be levied at a reduced rate.

The measure is hoped to reduce the traffic flow in the cities and increase the use of public transport.

The Government has also announced parallel plans to encourage cycling with the provision of bicycles by employers to employees who agree to use them to cycle to work to be given tax exempt benefit-in-kind status.

The exemption will only apply once in any five-year period in respect of any employee. There will be a limit on the value of such purchases of €1,000 for each employee. The exemption begins on January 1st, 2009.

(DW)