Appy days
Plans are progressing for the rollout of a parking app and dual payment machines in towns across county Cork with completion expected before the end of the year.
Cork County Council Divisional Manager, Niall Healy, confirmed on Monday that the rollout will likely proceed in the following sequence: Youghal, Kinsale, Fermoy, Mallow, Bandon, and Macroom.
The app will allow users to manage their parking payments remotely and without the need for cash, while also saving them having to return to their car if they need to stay longer.
Mr Healy said: “The rollout is dependent on the commissioning of the dual parking machines in advance, agreement locally regarding zoning in each town and completion of works projects that may already be underway.”
Current plans will see full rollout in all towns completed by the beginning of Q4 2025, added Mr Healy.
The news follows a motion brought before Cork County Council by Fianna Fáil councillor Gearoid Murphy calling for an update on the progress of the proposal.
He said: “I believe this will substantially increase convenience for local people and also make the towns more attractive to visit for tourists and casual shoppers. It’s just a common sense motion.
“This motion is about two things: convenience and choice.
“Over the last month and a half, I’ve had occasion to drive to many other counties around the country. During this time, I noticed that many of those other counties have multiple payment options for paid parking, including coin machines and card-based options.
“In many cases, there were apps available to pay for parking,” he added.
Cllr Murphy, who originally tabled a motion calling for the rollout of a parking app and dual payment machines a year ago, stressed that his motion is “not about a cashless society” and highlighted that cash payment would be continued and supported.
The parking app and dual payment machines have enjoyed a successful pilot run in the Cobh Municipal District since June of last year.
Cobh councillor Sinead Sheppard (Fine Gael) said the pilot is going “extremely well” having pushed for the scheme for the past four years.
Meanwhile, Cllr Frank O’Flynn (FF) said that 90% of meters in his local area of Fermoy now accept both card and cash and have been a “tremendous success”.
Cllr Eamonn Horgan (Social Democrats) asked the council executive if it would be possible to combine Cork city and county on the same app allowing users to use it anywhere in Cork.
He said: “There are a lot of people who travel between Cork city and county every day. I understand the complexities involved in different jurisdictions and different financing options, but if it could be considered, it would be fantastic for people.”