Parking charges at TU Dublin’s Blanchardstown Campus recommenced at the end of September much to the anger of staff and students at the university.
This was despite an agreement that the new unified parking system would not commence until all campuses were placed on an equal footing.
Staff and students on the Blanchardstown campus say they continue to be “singled out” for the charges while it is free on other campuses of the university.
Since the university was established on January 1, 2019, staff and students on the Blanchardstown campus have been paying parking charges and de-clamping fees whilst it is free elsewhere.
Staff and students on Blanchardstown campus were again warned for another academic year that they would have to buy a permit for parking on the Blanchardstown campus which would be enforced from Monday, September 23.
The Teachers Union of Ireland TUI Blanchardstown Branch, who represent academic staff, say they lodged a grievance with university management about this unequal treatment of staff (and students) on Blanchardstown campus.
The union says it was assured that a uniform parking system would be introduced from this September.
However, the branch says it was misled and TU Dublin management proceeded to impose the unfair charges.
The union had previously sought and were refused a refund for parking fees paid to APCOA (the car park operator) during Covid.
TU Dublin has increased student numbers this September and this will contribute to reducing a financial deficit in the university.
The Public Sector Climate Action Strategy 2023-2025 states ‘…The removal of free workplace parking has the potential to be a key mechanism in how the transport sector can meet its 50% emissions abatement target by 2030.’
TU Dublin’s strategic plan ‘Strategic Intent 2030’ states that TU Dublin will be ‘a beacon of sustainability’, however maintaining free car parks is hardly being a beacon of sustainability.
Blanchardstown staff and students have been paying the lion’s share of TU Dublin’s parking fee income for the past five years.
The parking permit costs €80 per year for 528 spaces, raising a whopping €211,000 over the last five years. Meanwhile the university has 1198 free spaces which it provides free parking, foregoing annual income of €95,000 for the past five years, almost a half million euro.
A TUI member on Blanchardstown Campus told Northside People
“We don’t begrudge the other campuses who don’t have to pay for parking, the cost of living is high enough, but why are we always singled out?
“It’s simply not fair and it is not sustainable.
“We were promised this academic year that there would be one an equal fair parking system and that it would not commence until all started on an equal basis.
“But charging has commenced but only for Blanchardstown.
“All say in the contract review to reduce parking charges, put in electric charging points, use revenue to improve our shuttle bus and cycle infrastructure.
“All we want is equality from the university.”
Another member told us: “TU Dublin is a great place to study and work. We want to reduce the transport costs for all, staff and students, to have more sustainable and climate positive transport to college for staff and students. Already we have achieved a reduction in the car park clamping release fee.”
The TUI Blanchardstown union says it will continue to “pursue equal treatment” for Blanchardstown staff and students and sustainable ways for all staff and students to make their daily journey to college.
Northside People contacted TU Dublin to for a comment on the issues raised in this article, here is their response:
“In response to the Sustainable Travel recommendations set out in the Public Sector Climate Action Strategy 2023-25, TU Dublin is proposing a new universal approach to car park management.
“As part of this, the University is working towards an aligned car parking management approach across campuses, including Blanchardstown and Grangegorman, where parking charges have been in place for many years.
“Students and staff at Blanchardstown have been paying permit charges since before TU Dublin was established, as the parking system was formerly managed by ITB (Institute of Technology Blanchardstown).
“This legacy arrangement was maintained under a contract with APCOA, signed in March, to ensure continuity of service, including funding the 878 shuttle bus connection to the Blanchardstown campus.
“There have been no changes to permit charges in Blanchardstown during this period, other than a reduction in the clamping fee and allowing Blanchardstown staff to park in Grangegorman and vice versa.
“TU Dublin is now proposing to introduce a new universal parking approach, which will extend to Tallaght, Aungier Street, and Bolton Street campuses.
“These efforts are integral to our broader sustainability goals, promoting the use of public transport, cycling, and walking to reduce carbon emissions and support sustainable campus mobility as well as improved estate management.
TU Dublin recently held a series of engagement sessions attended by over 200 students and staff to discuss the proposed parking plan, answer questions and gather feedback.
This feedback, along with data from our Smarter Travel Survey, will help shape our final approach.
“We are committed to ensuring the new parking management system supports both sustainability and fairness to staff and students, and a follow-up session will be held in December to present the final plan.”