Emmet Oliver
Operating profits at the company that holds the contract for the clamping service in Dublin city have risen to €664,650, but the contract has been put out to tender by Dublin City Council.
The company, Central Parking System Ireland Limited, holds almost 20 parking enforcement contracts in Ireland and the UK, but the Dublin contract is believed to be among the largest.
About 60,000 cars were clamped in Dublin during 2003 with motorists forced to pay €80 to have the device removed. This provided Dublin City Council with revenue of €4.8 million.
Operating profits at Central Parking System Ireland Ltd rose to €664,650 from almost €650,000 in the year ended September 30th, 2002. Pre-tax profits were down from €595,984 to €538,433, although an increase in unspecified "provisions" was the main reason behind this. The company's annual turnover was not disclosed.
The company, which has been operating the clamping service via its subsidiary Control Plus since 1998, had over €1 million in accumulated profits on its profit and loss account for the year to the end of September. It also has parking enforcement contracts with South Dublin County Council, Galway City Council and Cork County Council.
Some of the services involve clamping, but most involve ticketing or removal. The fines collected go to the local authorities and Central Parking System Ireland Ltd is paid an annual fee for providing the service.
Dublin City Council this week called for applications from companies willing to provide a clamping service, call payment centre and associated IT infrastructure. The council declined to divulge the value of the contract during this tender period. Companies interested must submit a "request to participate" by February 16th.
The council said the tender was issued last year but no contract was ultimately awarded and Central Parking continues to provide the service. She said no contract was awarded because the council wanted to "improve the structure of the contract".
The spokeswoman said the original contract was overly precise and did not allow companies "room for manoeuvre". She refused to elaborate further.
According to sources, large British parking companies are expected to be interested in the contract. Among the companies expected to feature are NCP, Vinci and the German Apcoa.
Central Parking System Ireland Limited is a subsidiary of Central Parking Corporation, which is listed on the New York stock exchange.
