Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The travel pass tax relief scheme was introduced on the basis that employers would incur its cost and employees would accept a reduction in salary to allow it to work and to show its transparency and enforceability. The scheme involves people using the public transport system rather than organising private transport. An application form for benefit-in-kind in respect of bus and train passes is available from the Revenue Commissioners.

I am extending the remit of the scheme today to cover people living on islands who need to get to work on the mainland. As I said, I propose to extend the scheme to take into account the proposed Dublin city ferry service, which will be along the lines of similar services in other cities. I am trying to ensure that such an innovative idea can compete with established modes of transport by being the subject of benefit-in-kind provisions in the same way.

It has been suggested that I should extend the scheme so that people can receive a benefit-in-kind by having a travel pass, in addition to their existing salary levels. The cost of such a provision would be borne by the taxpayer rather than by employers. We would have to consider the suggestion carefully before being in a position to agree to it.

The best way to get more people to use the public transport system is to provide quality public transport facilities. While we did not invest sufficiently in such facilities in the past, the current Government's record is second to none.

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