FINANCE Minister Brian Cowen has been urged to consider the introduction of tax relief on pay parking charges, following the scheme's introduction at the Sallins and Naas rail station.
Public transport activist James Durney issued the request to the Finance Minister, in the hope of easing commuter costs. Mr Durney, a member of the Naas and Sallins Rail Users Group and secretary of the local Fianna Fail Cumann, said that he knew of many commuters who use park and ride facilities. A similar tax break to the existing tax saver scheme for commuter parking would be helpful, he argued.
Mr Durney outlined how the scheme might operate:
"In a written submission I asked the Minister to consider commuter parking for tax relief as an incentive to coax people out of their cars and onto public transport, thus softening the blow of the new parking charges.
"An existing relief applies to the purchase of annual travel tickets and ideally the concept could be extended so that you purchase your annual transport ticket with parking as an optional add-on, and then claim tax relief against the total.
"Alternatively, one could collect and submit parking receipts en masse, as is done with medical expenses and similar reliefs.
"The tax saver scheme is a very popular one and most workplaces allow this be done directly against salaries, which is handy for employees, revenue and transport providers.
"If the relief is introduced, it will be nationwide but I particularly highlighted the train station in Sallins/Naas and the park and ride facilities at the Red Cow LUAS stop in my submission.
"I also stated my belief that any minor reduction in revenue would be offset by increased take-up of public transport.
"There would also be greater economic benefits from lack of congestion and greater social benefits too, as people free up time to spend in their homes and communities rather than being stuck in traffic jams."
Minister Cowen has indicated that he will consider the proposal; Mr Durney, meanwhile, is already looking expectantly at the December budget.