Motorists in Cork could be paying for parking their cars by using their mobile phones if a scheme which has won backing from the European Commission goes ahead next December.
Yesterday, the Commission announced that Cork, as well as Bristol and Winchester in the UK, had been nominated for a pilot project under the EU Civitas programme to develop innovative and radical urban transport initiatives.
Some 74 European cities submitted bids under the project and independent EU assessors cut the list down to 14 cities.
Cork, Bristol and Winchester will submit final proposals to the EU before funding of up to 35 per cent of the overall cost is allocated.
Once the schemes are up and running, they will be monitored by UCC and the transport research group at Southampton University. If successful, they will be introduced in other European cities.
The Cork bid included an increased network of cycle ways throughout the city and more pedestrian-friendly streets to encourage people to walk more and leave their cars behind.
But the most novel part of the scheme would do away with disc parking and instead lead to motorists "phoning in" their parking payments, using their mobiles.
The motorists will subscribe to a system which gives them credits which can be used up as required via the mobile phone.
The scheme will begin next September, according to a spokesman for Cork Corporation, who welcomed the EU's decision last night.