24 Mar 05 Car Sharing Clubs
19. Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has carried out an analysis of the benefits that may accrue from the introduction of car sharing clubs; if he will consider allocating a number of car parking spaces available to his Department for the use of such car club vehicles, both for official travel uses during the week and personal use at the weekend. [9742/05]
Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen): Car sharing clubs, involve individuals or businesses paying a membership fee to join a club, and some combination of a flat rate per hour or a per mile fee or both for the use of a vehicle. Vehicles are parked in strategic, convenient locations around cities, in which this scheme operates, and reserved ahead of time. The car sharing company or organisation pays for the car, fuel, maintenance, repairs, insurance, parking and cleaning. It is a concept that is gaining in popularity in some major cities in the USA. I have asked the DTO to brief my Department on the potential for such an initiative in Ireland.