Sir, Is the Department of Finance suffering from mad car disease? It seems that tax breaks are encouraging multi storey car parks throughout Dublin's city centre.
I want an explanation for the over generous fiscal incentives for car parks. Investors can claim a 50 per cent tax allowance and double rent allowances in designated areas for the construction of multi storey car parks. This stands in marked contrast to the Dublin Transportation Initiative (DTI) strategy, which recognises that nothing short of the conversion of the city centre from a car and heavy vehicle dominated area to a vibrant pedestrian, cyclist and public transport friendly environment is needed. Encouraging so many multi storey car parks acts directly against this policy.
It seems particularly incongruous that the Royal College of Surgeons is building a multi storey car park directly across the road from local authority housing on York Street and Mercer Street, when for many years the links between respiratory diseases and transport emissions have been recognised. In addition, Dublin Corporation, despite the pious sentiments of the Civic Charter to improve public transport, has a voting majority which has approved car parks behind the facade of the Tara Street fire station, and to the rear of the Mansion House, against the wishes of the Green Party members.
There is a fundamental contradiction between pious aspirations towards sustainability, as stated in many government publications over the last several years, and the relentless encouragement of cars into Dublin's city centre. It seems that the vast bulk of DTI funding to date has been spent on roads, with the crumbs for public transport.
Why the postponement" of one of the light rail lines and the lengthy delays for pedestrians at key crossing points in the city centre, while the Dublin Port Tunnel is doubled in capacity? Must we continue to inhale the consequences of outdated policies that continue to put cars before public transport, cyclists and pedestrians? Surely people are more important than cars, and changes in the Government's transport policy are necessary for the common good. Yours, etc., Green Party/Comhaontas Glas, Fade Street, Dublin 2.