The move, which has been backed by transport minister Martin Cullen, could remove up to 12,000 cars from the environs of Croke Park on match days. The new regime is expected to apply to an area within a 1.5 mile radius of the GAA stadium.

Only residents will be allowed to park within this area although each household could also be provided with a guest pass for match days.

The new zone will be significantly wider than the current garda traffic cordon and will take in areas including Drumcondra Road and Botanic Avenue.

Cullen said the changes would be introduced as an amendment to the Roads Bill which is expected to be passed into law before the D�il is dissolved for the general election.

"Calls were made on me to address the issue of parking congestion experienced on public roads in the environs of sports stadia and such venues on event days, " Cullen said.

The amendment will give local authorities the power for the first time to introduce residents-only parking.

The new regime is expected to be introduced alongside park-and-ride facilities at various locations including, possibly, Goffs in Co Kildare, a site north of Dublin airport and Leopardstown racecourse on the southside of the capital. Mary Fitzpatrick, a local Fianna F�il councillor, said the system would be similar to that which operated for the Ryder Cup at the K Club last year. "I want to see residents-only parking in place for the current GAA season. There's no reason why it cannot be introduced for the all-Ireland semi-finals and the finals themselves, " Fitzpatrick said.

Local residents groups have been lobbying for the new regime which already operates around stadiums like Old Trafford and at Twickenham.

"Life on match days has become increasingly difficult.

It can be very difficult to get in and out of the area. Residentsonly parking will really improve people's quality of life, " Brian Williams of the Iona and District Residents Association predicted.

The new legislation is also likely to be used to introduce a residents-only-parking regime within a 1.5-mile radius of the new Lansdowne Road stadium.