Sir, - I have a proposal for the Minister for Finance.
From my home-based office, I hear the daily traffic reports of congested arterial roads, accident black spots and occasional city gridlock. Home-based office workers do not, on a twice-daily basis, contribute to commuter pollution, traffic congestion, parking clutter and environmental damage. To acknowledge this, they should be rewarded with a tax rebate.
This tax rebate would encourage commuter workers to consider home-based alternatives, and companies could be offered tax incentives to offer greater flexibility to their workers, using information technology. With networked computers, the Internet, email and faxes, it is possible to have clients/employees based off-site, reducing costs and overheads for all concerned. The tax rebate would be more than offset by the improved travel conditions for essential commuters. - Yours, etc.,
Clara Clark, Blackrock, Co Dublin.