Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)

I support the amendments and I tabled similar amendments on previous Finance Bills. We not only need to examine the current system in the context of workers with irregular employment patterns, but a number of other barriers also need to be examined. The time limits, whether monthly or annual, must be addressed. The greatest impediment in the take up of the scheme is that it does not recognise multi-modal transport adequately. Very few people can get from A to B using one form of transport and they are often forced to use a private car. A system that recognises people in the greater Dublin area who might use a combination of suburban rail, Luas, DART and Dublin Bus is needed. The current system does not provide for that.

It is unusual that allowances similar to those proposed are provided for other tax reliefs, such as that relating to medical expenses. A system is also in place for the waste charges which, while cumbersome, allows the Department to collect bin tags and so on to grant the relief. I fail to see why a system cannot be put in place to encourage greater use of public transport whereby the various tickets used for public transport could be compiled so that individuals could seek a cumulative tax relief as long as it would benefit people in their employment. A lack of imagination in this policy area is stunting the Government in bringing forward the initiatives needed. As a result, Ireland's transport emissions have increased by 7% in the past year. If the Government was doing something right regarding public transport, such statistics would not result. It is time for a bolder initiative and the amendments go some way towards meeting that policy goal.

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