Claims Clare People Need To Be Less "Consumed" With Travelling By Car Amid Environmental Concerns

It's claimed people in Clare need to be less "consumed" with travelling by car amid increasing environmental concerns. It comes as the Climate Change Advisory Council has published its annual report for 2023 which states that Ireland will not meet its carbon budget targets unless drastic measures are taken. Among the council's recommendations are that motor tax be redeisgned to promote energy-efficient vehicles, that parking levies be introduced in main cities and that local authorities introduce park-and-ride schemes while also reducing the number of parking spaces on-site. At this month's meeting of Clare County Council, Clarecastle Councillor Paul Murphy called on the local authority to promote its Cycle to Work scheme, under which an employer can pay for a new bicycle as well as accessories and the employee repays the cost in regular instalments from their gross salary. Fianna Fáil Councillor Murphy has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons that the Cycle to Work scheme can have health as well as environmental benefits.