Irish Rail has formally confirmed to Cllr Sharon Tolan, Cathaoirleach of the Laytown–Bettystown Municipal District, that Laytown Train Station is being considered as part of a national review of car parking capacity, following her continued engagement on behalf of commuters, residents and local businesses.
The confirmation was issued in direct correspondence to Cllr Tolan after she sought an update on the long-standing and increasingly acute parking pressures at Laytown Train Station, which she has consistently raised since her election.
In its response, Irish Rail confirmed that it is currently updating its National Car Park Strategy, which will assess requirements for increased parking capacity, improved bus connectivity and enhanced active travel access across the rail network. The updated strategy is due to be completed and submitted to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for review in Q2 2026. Subject to prioritisation, funding and NTA approval, Irish Rail has stated that it would then engage with key stakeholders to progress works.
Commenting on the confirmation, Cllr Tolan said: “I welcome the formal confirmation from Irish Rail that station parking capacity, including at Laytown, is being actively reviewed at national level. This is an issue I have been raising consistently with Irish Rail, the Council and the NTA because the situation on the ground is simply not sustainable for commuters or residents.”
Cllr Tolan has repeatedly highlighted that inadequate parking at Laytown Train Station is forcing commuters to circulate residential streets during peak morning hours, creating congestion, frustration and growing tension within the community.
“This is not just about parking spaces,” she said. “It’s about people being able to access public transport in a safe, orderly way, about protecting residential amenity, and about ensuring Laytown remains a viable village for local businesses during the day.”
In her correspondence to Irish Rail, Cllr Tolan outlined the knock-on impacts on Laytown village, where limited on-street parking availability is affecting customers’ ability to access shops and services, with business owners reporting negative impacts on footfall and trade.
She also sought clarity on: any short-term or interim measures to relieve pressure on residential streets; the status of potential expansion or redesign of station parking facilities; opportunities for structured engagement between Irish Rail, Meath County Council and local stakeholders.
Cllr Tolan said the response from Irish Rail reflects the reality of sustained population growth and commuter demand in the Laytown–Bettystown area. “Laytown is one of the fastest-growing commuter communities in the county. Parking provision at the station has not kept pace with that growth, and that gap is now being felt very acutely,” she said.
Since her election, Cllr Tolan has made public transport access, parking capacity and sustainable commuting a central focus of her work, regularly raising the issue at council level and directly with national transport bodies.
“I will continue to press for Laytown to be prioritised within this strategy and to ensure that local voices are heard as decisions are made,” she concluded. “Irish Rail’s confirmation is an important step, but what matters most now is that it leads to tangible improvements on the ground and I am just as committed to seeing this delivered as I was delivering Fairer Fares.”
