Cork city and county saw a near 7% increase in parking fines last year

More than 65,000 parking fines, valued at more than €3.1m, were issued across Cork in 2025.

Figures provided to The Echo by Cork City Council and Cork County Council show that a total of 65,154 parking fines were issued by both local authorities last year, an almost 7% increase on 2024.

Cork City Council issued 52,905 fines totaling €2.44m — compared to 49,719 worth €2.28m in 2024, a 7.5% increase.

Last year’s total included 852 fines for illegally parking in a disabled bay, a 13% increase on the 754 fines issued for the same infraction in 2024.

Of the total number of parking fines issued in the city last year, 8,513 remain open, 200 of which are within the active payment period of 56-days in which a motorist is given to pay or appeal a ticket.

Legal action

Of the total parking fines issued in 2024, 7,341 remain open and are exposed to legal action, as after the 56-day payment period has been surpassed, “payment can no longer be collected directly by the local authority, and the case is then referred to the district court for adjudication”.

The number of parking fines issued by Cork County Council in 2025 was 12,249, an increase of almost 4% on the previous year’s total of 11,852. The value of the fines issued was €673,515, an increase of €15,400 on the 2024 total of €658,115.

This brings the combined value of fines issued last year, by both local authorities to motorists across Cork, to €3.11m.

Of the fines issued across Cork county last year, 435 were related to illegal parking in disabled bays.

Of the 12,249 parking fines issued by the county council last year, 9,367 have been paid, 892 were appealed, 933 were cancelled, 335 were taken to court, and 40 were not pursued due to reasons including having a foreign-registered vehicle.

Legal action has since been initiated for the remaining 682 fines.

Of the 11,852 parking fines issued in 2024, 9,158 were paid, 791 were appealed, 687 were cancelled, 483 went to court, and 222 were not pursued due to reasons including having a foreign-registered vehicle.

Legal action has also been initiated for the remaining 511 fines issued in 2024, with court appearances pending.