Minister 'must ban' rise in clamping fees

Clodagh Sheehy

TRANSPORT Minister Leo Varadkar has the power to stall any plans by the city council to raise clamping fees, it was argued today.

Pressure was mounting on the minister definitively to rule out any increase clamping charges around the capital.

Fianna Fail's group leader on Dublin City Council, Mary Fitzpatrick, tabled a motion at the Strategic Policy Committee on Transport today, calling for the minister to halt the increase in charges. She also plans to have the issue raised by Fianna Fail in the Dail.

The annual report from the Parking Appeals Officer has recommended that the fee be increased to from €80 to €130.

Cllr Fitzpatrick said: "The €80 penalty was set at a time when people had much more disposable income. It has been a very effective deterrent."

More than 55,000 motorists were clamped in Dublin city last year.

hnews@herald.ie