'There is no more space' - Cllr says no further expansion of Dundalk's M1 Park and Ride

Fianna Fáil councillor for Dundalk South Shane McGuinness has said any new M1 park and ride facility cannot go at Junction 16/Dundalk South.

Cllr McGuinness told the February meeting of Louth County Council that although the park and ride is a great idea, the current facility is overflowing and is causing problems.

He said there is "no space at junction 16 for any expansion in any way" and it is causing upset among neighbours close. 

"I know TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) is managing park and rides, but if we're going doing anything with park and rides or expansion, it needs to be a new park and ride at junction 17 or junction 18 or junction 19."

"There is no more space left at junction 16, I can assure you," he said.

Cllr McGuinness the cross-border PEACEPLUS programme could be "something that we could look at to invest in another park and ride". 

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David Hanratty, Director of Services with Louth County Council said the park and ride facility at junction 16 is a "victim of its own success", and said his team are looking at "alternative locations along the motorway" which could be proposed.

Fine Gael councillor for Dundalk/Carlingford John Reilly told the February meeting of the Dundalk Municipal District that people are "fighting for parking" with users having to arrive earlier and earlier to secure a parking spot.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.