by Molly O’Reilly

Credit Molly O’Reilly 

In Ireland’s busiest city, full of life,  

As the epidemic of clamping down on cars becomes rampant around the Capital, there are three things guaranteed in life in Dublin; death, taxes and clamping.  

It is no secret that the housing crisis has seeped into student life in Dublin, resulting in many in neighbouring counties commuting to college or having to find accommodation for the academic year. 

Despite the argument there are plenty of transport to use or places to “pull in,” many Irish students have been left lost and have had no choice but to fork out a sum to release their car from the shackles of the clamper. 

The fee for clamping is a release fee of one hundred and twenty-five euro, which is operated by Dublin Street Parking (DSPS). 

However, if the release fee is not paid within the 24 hours of being initially clamped, not only will your car be towed away to the city car pound, but there is also a fee of 250 euro and an additional 35 euro per day according to the DSPS website.  

Dublin City council has released the statistics for clamping of cars around the city from 2022 with a total number of clamps of 40,732 excluding invalids (disabled parking badges out of date is an example of an invalid) 

Credit Millie Storey 

Although the reasonings behind the clamping may seem obvious, there can be virtually nowhere for people to park even when paying elevated levels of rent for accommodation. 

For instance, in private accommodations and estates it is not an unusual sight to see a car with a registered parking ticket clamped. 

Dublin City Council provide an appeals process that must be submitted within 60 days from the original day the car was clamped. 

One Dublin driver, who did not wish to be named, had their car clamped last year whilst it was parked on a private estate in Dublin. Not only was their car the only one clamped on the street, but without their knowledge it was moved from Cabra to Stoneybatter.  

Is this Dublin’s latest trend amongst students? 

Marese Masterson, originally from Leitrim, who studies in Maynooth said her car is a necessity during her time in Dublin for her work as an intern. Masterson drives to work five days a week and says the lack of parking is taking a toll on her finances. 

“They even clamp in Supervalu in Ranelagh, there is barely any street parking just loading bays and clearways. I have gotten clamped twice, said loading bay and once got clamped at 7 in the evening,” she said. 

“The parking price per hour is extortionate for students- example twenty euro a day, very unfair as this leads to students unable to pay the ticket, which in hand leads to clamping.” 

Masterson is not the only student feeling the pinch. Elli Duggan from Kilkenny recently studied social care in TU Dublin Grange Gorman and lived in student accommodation in Phibsborough. Her car was a necessity for her work placement as well as getting to and from her job in Kilkenny.  

“In my student accommodation of 400 students there were only 8 parking spaces available, which were 50 euro a month, I would have to park on the North Circular Road.” 

According to DSPS website, clamping can occur when a park has expired by as little as ten minutes.  

The City.ie asked the DSPS to comment on allegations that   clamping was excessive around Dublin. They declined to comment but said further contact can be made with those in higher management or an FOI (freedom of information) application can be made.