"If you want more enforcement of parking controls, you need to pay for it."
That was the message delivered to councillors at yesterday's Carrickmacross-Castleblayney MD meeting, in response to concerns about the lack of parking wardens in the area.
At yesterday's meeting, councillors adopted new parking control schemes for the two towns.
The measures include maintaining and introducing two-hour parking limits in areas of the two towns.
However, Cathaoirleach of the MD, PJ O'Hanlon, questioned the adoption of the new scheme and asked if there is truly two-hour parking "if there are no parking wardens there to enforce it".
He asked the MD if the new scheme "should be proposed without knowing if it can be implemented".
However, Director of Services Paul Clifford told the meeting that "if you want more full time wardens, get a stream of income".
He added that pay parking would do this, and that the proceeds from pay parking in Monaghan Town supports the provision of traffic wardens.
Mr Clifford also said there are "plenty of spaces in the towns" and "it's about getting people to park in the right place".
PJ O'Hanlon has been speaking to our reporter Diarmuid Pepper about the issue:
