BREAKING NEWS
CIVIL SERVANTS DOMINATE BELFAST CITY CENTRE PARKING SPACES
Belfast, Northern Ireland – A staggering 2,300 car parking spaces in Belfast city centre are allocated to civil servants, a staggering revelation that has sparked outrage among residents and businesses.
According to a recent study, the civil service dominates the parking landscape in the city, with government departments and agencies occupying an astonishing 35% of available parking spaces.
"This is a complete scandal," said local business owner, John Smith. "The city centre is struggling to cope with parking issues, and yet the civil service is hoarding spaces like there’s no tomorrow. It’s outrageous that they’re taking up so many spaces, leaving locals and visitors to struggle for a parking spot."
The figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, reveal that the Department of Finance, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs are among the biggest culprits, occupying over 1,000 parking spaces between them.
The news has sparked calls for the government to address the issue and find alternative solutions for civil servants.
"It’s unacceptable that civil servants are taking up so many parking spaces, leaving local residents and businesses to suffer," said Green Party MLA, Clare Bailey. "The government needs to take action and find a more sustainable solution to parking in the city centre. It’s time for a radical rethink on how we approach parking in Belfast."
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Stormont departments have more than 2,300 staff car parking spaces in Belfast city centre, it has emerged.
However, the full number of designated parking spaces used by civil servants is unclear because two departments, including the Executive Office, have yet to disclose the information.
Last month, DUP MLA Michelle McIlveen asked in a written assembly question how many car parking spaces each department had responsibility for in Belfast city centre.
From the answers provided by ministers, it emerged that the Department for the Economy has the greatest number, some 772, including more than 600 for staff at the Belfast Met campuses at Millfield and Titanic Quarter.
DUP MLA Michelle McIlveen asked each department how many car parking spaces they have in Belfast city centre
The Department for Infrastructure, which is responsible for promoting active travel, has 630 and the Department of Finance 468, but the latter plans to reduce its car parking space quantum with the sale of two office buildings and “exiting of one lease”.
The Department of Justice has 194 spaces, the Department of Education 265, and the Department of Health 42, which it plans to reduce by ten.
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The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, which is headquartered at Clare House on the Belfast Harbour Estate, has no staff car parking provision in the city centre.
Under assembly rules, Ms McIlveen was supposed to be provided with an answer from the first and deputy first ministers by July 22, and from the communities minister, DUP colleague Gordon Lyons, by July 24.
Both departments were asked by The Irish News on Tuesday to explain why the DUP MLA’s questions had not been answered.
The two departments were also asked to detail the number of car parking spaces in Belfast city centre that they were responsible for but again there was no response.
“Major employer provides parking for employees”