No excuse for Cullen’s hand-out

HOW can the Government possibly justify Transport Minister Martin Cullen’s hand-out of E375,000 in taxpayer’s money for free park and ride facilities during the Tall Ships festival in Waterford ?

Especially when public money is being squandered on major schemes and services are being slashed, including outrageous cutbacks in home care for the elderly.

This is another glaring example of a Coalition minister giving preferential treatment to his own constituency. The Public Accounts Committee decision to investigate the matter is to be welcomed.

What the public needs to know is how the money was allocated and whether Mr Cullen had Dáil approval.

Similar questions arose after Minister John O’Donoghue bent the rules in March 2002 when 300,000 was allocated to the Kilorglin boat club in his Kerry constituency.

Corners were also cut by ex-ministers Joe Walsh and Charlie McCreevy in financing the E15 million Punchestown equestrian centre built by private developers.

For his part, Mr Cullen confirms he provided the money to his native city following uproar over a proposed charge of E5 per person a day or E10 per family during the festival.

He has the temerity to spin it as “a pilot scheme to see if it could be organised and work for a big city”. Naturally, the trial was “fantastic” to quote his own term.

To top it all, Mr Cullen claims Waterford has “shown the way with park and ride”.

It is also clear this government has shown the way in shamelessly riding the taxpayer.