asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider income tax allowance for unavoidable travel expenses incurred by people who have to travel a distance of over two miles to and from work.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Income Tax Allowance.
48.
The answer is in the negative.
In view of the centralisation of industrial development envisaged in the Buchanan Report and the statement by the Minister for Lands in favour of part-time farming, our country's economic policy is likely to require workers to bear heavy travelling expenses. Does the Minister not think they should be given some such assistance as outlined in the question?
No.
Why not?
Because I do not agree with the Deputy.
Does the Minister not agree that this is a fair interpretation of the trend of our industrial development?
It has nothing to do with it.
Of course it has.
The Minister does not mean he is rejecting completely the idea of some kind of concession for people who travel distances to work?
As Deputy Tully knows, long before this eager young man came into the House, he and I have been concerning ourselves with this problem.
And getting nowhere.
Question No. 49 postponed.