Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. The Climate Change Advisory Council has called on the Government to implement a levy on workers who get free parking in urban areas. The idea behind that is to change individual behaviour. However, as the Minister has stated, I am sure people do not want to be in their cars for hours on end. It is the last thing they want on their way to work. However, there are cases where there are no alternatives, particularly public transport alternatives. More than ever, people are cycling, availing of a car pool, or walking or running to work. That is very good. However, if there are no alternatives to the use of a car, particularly public transport alternatives, I do not see how the Government could take this provision away from ordinary workers, particularly front-line workers who have no alternatives to their cars. If public transport links around the country were better, people would avail of them rather than being stuck in their cars.

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