Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I hate to be a killjoy but the Minister presumes civil servants use public transport in the vast majority of cases. In fact, it is so in less than 5% of cases. People are not stupid; the Minister provides a major financial incentive to drive. As a result, the State spends some €20 million on mileage rates and the centre of Dublin is clogged because the State promotes driving by way of providing Civil Service car parks. It does this through the mileage rate system and the provision of free car parking spaces in Dublin city centre and elsewhere. Does the Minister wish to change this?

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