How to trim political expenses

Your readers Brendan Casserly (Letters, May 4) and Enid Dowd (Letters, May 9) continue the debate regarding expenses paid to politicians.

I must agree with Mr Dowd that the current system is unacceptable and a more transparent and accountable system needs to be put in place.

For instance, in Cork, TDs should have travel expenses from home to railway stations at Cork and Mallow and then receive fare for the train to Dublin. This criteria should be replicated throughout the country.