Dublin bikes scheme a victim of populism

Sir, – Una Mullally rightly bemoans the failure to make the Dublin bike scheme more widely available ("Dublin bikes scheme hits the brakes", Opinion & Analysis, August 22nd).

However, by pointing the finger of blame at the straw man of privatisation, she lets the real culprits off the hook. The Dublin City councillors who voted to reduce property tax by 15 per cent this year are the villains here. The more than €11 million in revenue lost as a result would have easily funded an expanded Dublin bikes scheme, with money to spare for vital services for rough sleepers, refugees and improvements in the public realm.

Surely another victim of the “new politics” of populism? – Yours, etc,

ED BROPHY,

Dublin 8.