FEARS of motorists across Dublin have been realised with the news that parking charges are to increase.

Dublin motorists now face significant fees following a decision by Dublin City Council last night.

Charges will increase by up to twenty cent an hour, and the price hike will come into effect on December 1.

Councillors accepted a report at the Dublin City Council meeting which said the rise in charges was necessary to restrict the increasing number of cars coming into the city.

The charges will be implemented in time for this year's Christmas rush and it is hoped that the increased charges will deter motorists from bringing their cars into the city.

The cost of parking in the inner Yellow Zone will rise from €2.70 per hour to €2.90 an hour on weekdays.

The Red Zone will also increase to €2.40 while the Green Zone will increase by 10 cent to €1.60.

Other outer zones will remain unchanged this year.

The charges increases were met with a mixed reaction by councillors.

Fine Gael's Cllr Paddy McCartan said the increase was a positive move for the city, even though some might see it as a stealth tax.

"The future of the city can only be served by making it difficult to park," he said.

"A major contribution to congestion is people cruising around looking for parking."

Meanwhile, Cllr Mary Freehill (Labour) said the increases were extremely unfair as some Dublin residents are forced to take their car because of insufficient bus and Luas services.

Suburbs

"People in the Victorian inner suburbs do not have public transport," she said. "There's no east-west public transport and people have no choice but to take the car. They cannot get a bus to where they want to go.

Meanwhile, Dermot Lacey (Labour) lambasted the public transport system by saying that the assertion it has improved is "a joke".

"Public transport is in a mess," he said.

Mr Lacey said the current parking situation for Dublin city motorists has to improve.

"The Government should accept the need to have appropriate parking services," he said.

The Labour councillor also criticised the manner in which clamping is implemented, and said he wished Dublin City Council was "half as efficient".

"It's a money making racket," he said. "There are clampers hiding around corners when motorists are only five minutes overdue. It's an abhorrence."

- Geraldine Gittens