Q-Park expands into Ireland

The Dutch parking company Q-Park has made further strides in its on going strategy to create a pan European organisation by acquiring the Dublin based parking firms FPS(I) and FPS (Future Parking Services). The corporate acquisition will form the foundations and springboard for the launch in Ireland of a new Q-Park company, Q-Park Ireland Ltd.

As a result of the FPS acquisition, the Q-Park Group will add some 6000 parking spaces to its total of just under 161,000 across Europe. The 50 strong work-force at FPS will bring Q-Park’s Europe wide total to close on 1050 employees. FPS manages and operates 16 car parks in Ireland including prestigious sites in Dublin and Cork. With Ireland in the group, Q-Park’s turnover will grow annually to 160 m €. Q-Park is based in The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and the UK.

Ward Vleugels, CEO of the Q-Park group, comments: “ We are delighted to secure a platform in Ireland. As a member of the European Union, Ireland provides a stable political structure and the economic growth potential we are looking for in our European markets. Ireland has good economic prospects and the government has in the past decade invested in the regeneration and the infrastructure of its inner cities. These are excellent conditions required for optimising mobility and parking facilities.

Dublin and Cork provide us with a perfect starting point for further growth in the Irish market. The economic prospects are good for the coming years and both cities have excellent retail and leisure facilities together with a good working environment. In the past 5 years retail has grown by 45% in Dublin. Millions of tourists come to the Irish capital yearly for its tourist attractions. The city of Cork with its harbour and airport provides a trade centre in the South. It is also an export centre for the manufacturing and agricultural industries.

Vleugels continues: ”There is a growing demand for parking facilities in the inner cities. The government and local authorities are committed to reduce on street parking in order to provide ‘pedestrian and shopping-friendly’ city centres.
The group will be investing significant sums in quality in terms of interior design and customer service. We will be expecting to double the number of spaces over the next three years.”

The new Irish acquisition will enable Q-Park to enhance its position within the European market. The company’s philosophy is based on customer-friendly service with emphasis on speed of service, convenience and safety. Q-Park focuses on strategic mobility concepts for local authorities, companies and consumers by offering parking facilities and related services.