The Department of Education is encouraging staff to drive to work by providing free parking spaces in the multi-storey public car park on Marlborough Street, in apparent contravention of public policy.
A letter circulated to staff last month stated that the Department had agreed to lease a "limited number" of spaces from Irish Car Parks Ltd, pending completion of major development work on its own site in two years.
"You will appreciate that the rent incurred for these spaces is substantial and the facility represents a valuable concession which requires to be fully utilised to derive maximum benefit", staff were told in the letter, which was signed by Mr Pat Pykett. It continued: "As the demand for spaces exceeds the supply, you are reminded that should the facility be under-utilised by you, it will be necessary to review your particular situation."
One Department official, who did not wish to be identified "because the bureaucrats here would be very upset", said he used public transport to go to work at least three times a week because he found Dublin's traffic too stressful.
"I believe strongly that each of us must make a contribution to solving the traffic problem, but now, as a result of the Department's edict, I will have to drive in every day if I am to retain my parking space."
A spokesman for the Department said the reason why it was leasing "around 80" parking spaces from Irish Car Parks Ltd was to replace some of the spaces lost when builders took over much of its grounds on September 20th.
The Department had already reduced on-site car parking from more than 200 to less than 100 spaces, for traffic management reasons. These spaces were mainly for staff, such as school inspectors, who needed their cars for work.
The Dublin Transportation Office is encouraging major employers in both the public and private sectors to draw up commuter plans for their staff, with the aim of promoting public transport, cycling and walking as alternatives to private car use.
A "Way to Go" project, which also focuses on car-pooling and tele-commuting, involves the Irish Energy Centre, Intel, Irish Life, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and two Government departments (Environment and Enterprise and Employment).
