Sanity of the car scrappage scheme

TO argue that the car scrappage scheme was “not a cost to the state” because it generated net revenue for the government, as Alan Nolan does (Letters, June 22) is wrong.

As Mr Nolan knows, every single car purchased here is imported, and represents a net economic leakage to the economy as a whole. We cannot import our way out of recession.

Mr Nolan ignores the massive CO2 emissions generated in car manufacture and distribution.

Regarding the “thousands of jobs” protected and generated, Mr Nolan ignores the fact that those jobs were “protected” only at the cost of jobs in other sectors in the economy.

Finally, Mr Nolan is completely incorrect when he states that “no one in this industry would willingly take a good car off the road.” According to Maurice Fitzgerald, (Letters, June 27) a car for scrappage must have an NCT certificate; the very certificate that proves the car is perfectly roadworthy. Thank you, Mr Fitzgerald, for illustrating the sheer insanity of this scheme.

James McGrath

Hollyford

Co Tipperary