We’ve heard worse ideas…

Councillor John Maher, of the Labour Party, suggested that free public transport be introduced in Cork in order to reduce carbon emissions.

“The cost of free public transport is going to have a cost on the Public Exchequer, but if we don’t meet our climate targets and the challenges ahead of us we’re going to receive fines.” Maher is referring to fines implemented by the European Union, which could end up totalling billions of euro.

“I believe we need to do things differently – we need to increase public transport, we need to increase our cycle infrastructure, and free travel is another way that we have to look at that will help us get to where we need to be,” Maher said.

The suggestions echo comments made by Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley last week.

Maher told Red FM that his party had written to the National Transport Authority and Minister for Transport suggesting that the idea could be first explored by introducing free public transport for school children in Cork city.

Header image via Twitter/@BusEireann