Transport

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Public Transport in Ireland

UnitedPeople seeks to create a functional public transport system in Ireland including an underground carrier system. We also seek a better extended commuter train service to the major cities in Ireland. We would like to see if it is possible to create subsidised or free travel for students depending on how much family disposable income is left over after basic living needs have been met.

We would like to see motor tax ring-fenced and used for road infrastructure. In the past this revenue has been directed towards other government departments despite elected representatives promising this would not happen. Those breaking their word at local or national level would be held more accountable through the Recall process.

This Participatory Democracy process (also applicable to other departmental sectors) will no doubt be fiercely resisted by current elected representatives. The thought of the elected being more accountable to the public for their misdeeds or broken word, would have them create a litany of possible polished excuses as to why it shouldn't happen. This is expected but UnitedPeople is determined to make all elected representatives more accountable to the public.

UnitedPeople would see an end to paying private companies financial compensation due to lack of traffic flow. It's a ridiculous situation. Such private companies were willing to contract commit to the management of the nation's roadways when they smelled huge profits but when suffering a drop in profits, they cry foul - expecting state compensation.

SME's and other large scale private operations in the country are not rewarded for lack of customers. Why should essential state revenue be wasted in such an unfair fashion toward one sector? Besides the cost to the taxpayer, it's business model is discriminatory. UnitedPeople would see that all the road toll revenues and the underlying assets that generate them,  be returned to public ownership for the benefit of the state - in other words, the public.

The continuing ways in which motor insurance is hiked in favour of private profit over the customer's ability to pay, would be investigated. Fairer means would be found to balance out the costs to vehicle owners. UnitedPeople would look into the creation of possible inducements for motor insurance companies to allow lower driver/owner costs. These could be introduced in novel ways such as advanced driving courses taken or the self-imposition of third party utilities to restrict driving when under the possible influence or speed restriction devises installed - for simple example.

This could all be investigated with consultation between the public and businesses and  could eventually not only save money for citizens but have a positive effect on the numbers of lives saved through road traffic accidents.

UnitedPeople, here as in other areas, welcomes fresh thinking and a re-evaluation of methods used in the past. More positive and fairer methods for both citizens and businesses should be sought.

We accept the challenge to bring positive change.