Christmas parking extended this year

Cork City Council is to provide six weeks of incentivised parking in city centre car parks from 22 October.

The scheme is an extension of the system run in November last year with a strong emphasis on generating more footfall in the city centre.

From 22 October, Monday to Thursday 10am to 12pm, there will be free car parking in both Paul Street and North Main Street car parks. 

On Thursday and Friday from 6.30pm to midnight, there will be free parking in Paul Street to encourage late night shoppers. 

The Park and Ride on the Kinsale Road will also operate on a free basis from 27 October for six weeks. 

The Cork Business Association welcomed the announcement last night as another step "in the right direction for Cork city."

"It's a welcome increase on the four weeks we had last year," said Donal Healy, CEO of the Cork Business Association. 

It's also understood that the CBA are in the process of preparing voucher packs and other incentives for other car parks in the city. 

However, while welcoming of the nature of the new incentives, Socialist councillor Mick Barry warned that this "stimulus the size of Carrauntoohil, will be met by Government cutbacks the size of Mount Everest" in relation to consumer spending.