The Government is not telling colleges to build on car parks, the Green Party has said.

The Irish Times reports today that third-level institutions feel under pressure to cut car parking spaces in an attempt to slash their carbon footprints. 

The State hopes carbon emissions will have halved by the end of the decade and Environment Minister Eamon Ryan has described third-level institutions as “central to the challenge of meeting our climate goals”. 

Speaking to Newstalk, Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman said it was up to colleges what they do with their land. 

“I think universities make decisions about the use of their very valuable land on a case-by-case basis,” he said. 

“I was over at DCU on Saturday where I used to lecture and I saw one of the car parks there being converted into an amazing new STEM building. 

“I think that… is actually a really good use of that particular piece of land.” 

Heavy traffic in Dublin. Credit: Douglas O'Connor / Alamy Stock Photo

Minister O’Gorman said he understood many students depend on cars to commute into college but added that the Government has significantly increased spending on public transport. 

“As a Government, we’ve taken steps to support the many students who do commute to university on a daily basis,” he said. 

“I know in my classes that was often a large proportion; one of the steps we’ve taken is the Young Adult Travel Card that has halved public transport costs for 17-year-olds up to those who are 25. 

“So, including nearly all students and young adults who are working as well. 

“I think that’s a very tangible step to make the cost of that journey easier.” 

An estimated 17% of students at University College Galway have a commute that lasts for an hour or more.

Department statement

In a statement to Newstalk, the Department of Further and Higher Education said each campus has its own policy.

"Car parking policy, as a subset of campus master-planning, is a matter for higher-education institutions (HEIs) themselves," it said.

"They are autonomous bodies as set out in legislation and receive funding from a variety of sources including state grants, competitive funding, tuition fees and commercial/private income streams.

"The Public Sector Climate Action Mandate (2023) directs the phasing out of the use of parking in buildings that have access to a range of public transport services and active/shared mobility options for the majority of staff/visitors while providing that sufficient accessible parking is maintained for those with physical mobility issues."

The Department said it aligns with local authority transport management plans for new facilities.

"For new builds, the preliminary business case is required to confirm alignment with the relevant national, regional and local planning guidance," it said.

"For existing tertiary education facilities, estate management plans are required to inform future investment, ensure alignment with policy and inform strategic, evidence-based decision-making.

"Alignment with a ‘Town-Centre First’ strategy and consolidation of the existing tertiary infrastructure, where appropriate, will further reduce transport needs," it added.

Main image: Roderic O'Gorman. Picture by: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Reporting by James Wilson and Bella Finn.