Govt plans spark allegations of vote buying

As the Fianna Fáil - Progressive Democrat coalition struggles in the latest opinion poll, it is claimed the Government is planning a number of big spending projects in the run up to the election.

Reports in today’s Sunday Independent have claimed two initiatives in particular will appeal to hundreds of thousands of voters, and could leave the Government open to accusations it is trying to buy votes.

The Sunday Independent said the Government is planning to allow 600,000 pensioners to use public transport whenever they want, as a planned extension to the Free Travel Scheme.

At the moment there are some time restrictions in place, which would be lift under the plans.

The newspaper also alleges that the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will announce plans to buy out the West Link toll bridge on the M50 in Dublin before the election, to appeal to the hundreds of thousands caught up in on-going traffic jams.

That measure alone could cost over €1bn.

The ESRI has already appealed to the Government not to repeat tax cuts and spending increases announced before the last election, as it would increase inflation.