Dublin City councillors have recommended that clamping fees should be increased in line with inflation in the future.

A number of councillors on the Transport Committee have also said persistent offenders should face higher charges.

The power to raise the current charge of €80 rests with the Minister for Transport.

New legislation going through the Dáil to regulate the clamping industry would give regulatory powers to the National Transport Authority.

City councillors made their recommendation following a consultant's report, which pointed out that current charges have not increased since 1998.

The amount raised in clamping fees leaves the council with a shortfall of €2.8m as it pays €7m for the clamping service.

The fee would have to be increased to €130 to break even.

The number of clampings is fixed at 56,000 per year.

The report also pointed out that many of those clamped are repeat offenders with more than 2,300 drivers penalised five times or more in the past four years.

The committee agreed to write to the minister asking that fees be index linked.

Committee chairman Cllr Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party said he agreed the fees should be increased to cover the cost.

Mr Cuffe said: "I don't believe that those who obey the law should have to subsidise those who don't."

An Independent Parking Appeals Officer has said a recommendation by Dublin City councillors to increase clamping fees in the future is necessary to bridge the gap between what it costs to deliver the service and the fees that are generated from the current clamping charges.

Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One Liam Kielthy said there is a case for increasing the fee, particularly in the case of repeat offenders.

He said one offender has had their car clamped 55 times and obviously does not see the €80 fine as a deterrent.