A DEDICATED traffic warden for the Killaloe Municipal District is to be considered by Clare County Council as parking pressures continue to grow across East Clare.
The proposal was put forward by Cllr Pat Burke (FG) at the July meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District, where he said increased parking demand, new public car parks and ongoing illegal parking issues justified the appointment of a dedicated enforcement officer.
Cllr Burke pointed to the imminent opening of a new public car park in Scarriff, the prospect of additional car parks elsewhere in the district, continued issues at Ballycuggeran and illegal parking and camping at a number of locations.
He said members of the public frequently ask when parking by-laws will be enforced, particularly where motorists overstay parking limits or park illegally.
Welcoming the council’s response, Cllr Burke said a traffic warden could “pop in here, there and everywhere in the MD” to help address parking issues.
Seconding the motion, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) supported the proposal but said enforcement would need to be applied carefully.
He noted that while time limits existed in places such as Scarriff, they were not currently being enforced and said the operation of any traffic warden should be evaluated.
Cathaoirleach for the Killaloe MD, Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF), also welcomed the proposal and thanked council staff for introducing a temporary overflow car park at Ballycuggeran.
He described the measure as a “very proactive and timely intervention” which had “alleviated a lot of the problems down there”.
In a written response, Senior Executive Engineer Declan Flanagan said the council recognised increasing parking pressures across the municipal district, particularly during the tourism season.
He said the opening of the Killaloe Bypass and Brian Boru Bridge had improved access to East Clare and contributed to increased visitor numbers, while the new Scarriff car park and any future parking developments would further increase the need for effective parking management.
Mr Flanagan said the council currently works with An Garda Síochána, local communities and event organisers to manage parking issues, but temporary arrangements such as overflow parking at Ballycuggeran require significant operational resources.
He said introducing parking by-laws alongside a dedicated traffic warden would provide a more structured approach to parking enforcement, helping improve road safety, reduce illegal parking and maximise the use of public parking facilities.
However, he said a detailed business case would first be required to assess demand, costs, staffing requirements and enforcement arrangements before such a service could be introduced.
–Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
