Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)

I propose getting rid of it and replacing it in another way by placing the tax directly on the fuel. This would effect savings in two ways. First, it would lead to savings in the paper-pushing associated with operating the current scheme. In addition, it would mean that tourists would be able to contribute to the cost of our roads, as they also buy petrol when visiting. For anyone who makes the argument that this measure would put off tourists, why not use the money raised from the proposed increase in road tax, which the Government intends to give to bankers, by putting it towards a reduction in airport taxes? That would increase the number of tourists.

On fuel allowance, the Government had an option whereby it would have cost them no more than the reduction from 34 to 26 weeks of giving people a block or single payment. People could then buy their fuel in bulk. In other words, instead of buying approximately 80 bales of briquettes, they could buy two loads of turf. If one paid the allowance to them all at once, one would make the same saving.

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