Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)

It appears that not much thought went into the preparation of this budget. The Government has taken the easy options, particularly in resolution No. 4 which increases VAT. I will confine my remarks to resolution No.7, which imposes an 8 cent levy on a litre of petrol.

Deputy Timmins asked how much of the price of a litre of petrol is tax and he was kindly answered by his constituency colleague. Can the Tánaiste confirm that the figures cited are correct, namely that 55% of the price of every litre of petrol is tax? The proposal in resolution No.7 is anti-rural. Many of those who work in Galway city, for example, come from areas in Connemara including Clifden, Carraroe, Lettermullen and so forth. They work in factories, hospitals, the health service, the local authority and so forth and will be penalised for using their cars to get to work. Many travel between 30 and 50 miles per day and soon they will not be able to afford to travel to work. It will be better for them to stay at home and go on the dole or engage in farming rather than travel to work in Galway city. The €200 charge for a parking space will affect many of the same people. Will those working in factories, for local authorities or in the health services be charged for parking? Will the HSE be obliged to charge €200 to all of the people who crowd out the car park of the University College Hospital every day? I ask the Tánaiste to clarify these matters in her response to our concerns about the 8 cent increase in the price of a litre of petrol. That increase will make it almost uneconomical for people who travel long distances to work to continue to do so. This is particularly true in my constituency of Galway West where many of those who work in the city live up to 50 miles outside it. Such people are being crucified.

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