DONEGAL County Council has generated almost €400,000 through pay parking in the first six months of this this year with Letterkennny bringing in the highest income.
Figures obtained by the Donegal News reveal that €398,828 was generated through pay parking across six areas of the county up to the end of June.
Letterkenny was the Council’s top earner, raking in €118,100 in addition to the €188,612 raised throughout 2021.
Donegal Town generated the second highest income with €113,271 raised in the first half of 2022 compared to €157,071 last year.
There has been a significant drop in the amount of income generated through pay parking in Bundoran. Up to the end of June the figure stood at €18,719 compared to the €129,221 generated throughout 2021.
Last year pay parking was brought in at Sliabh Liag for the first time and since the start of last year €112,722 has been generated at the world renowned site.
In Ballybofey €63,848 has been generated through pay parking over the six month period compared to €95,150 in 2021.
This compares to €43,774 generated in Buncrana up to the end of June 2022 in addition to €50,171 last year.
Parking fines have brought in more than €100,000 for the Council up to the end of June. The Council figures show €104,128 has been paid through Fixed Charge Notices over this period. This compares to €116,368 worth of fines paid in the county in 2021.
The local authority told the Donegal News that it has incurred losses in relation to pay parking in recent years.
“The pay parking is for the most part, not a profit generator for the Council, with losses incurred in 2020 and 2021, most likely due to the Covid pandemic,” said a spokesperson for the Council.
“Income accrued is spent on maintenance of the various offstreet and onstreet car parks; payment of wages and salaries for the traffic wardens and parking section of the Council; the operation and administration of parking charges, traffic fines and enforcement and upgrading and maintenance of parking equipment.”
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