An extension of the car scrappage scheme is absolutely essential for the continued recovery of the car industry in Ireland, according to Mayo Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony. Speaking after the announcement that nearly as many cars have been sold to date this year as in all of 2009, Deputy O’Mahony said that for the trend to continue into next year, the Government must extend the scheme when it announces its Budget in December.
“The scrappage scheme has proved a success and the figures show that there has been a steady increase in car sales month on month. This is so different to what was happening last year when the motor car industry was haemorrhaging jobs. Now, the evidence is there that because of the increase in car sales, many of those laid off last year are being re-employed.
“It is absolutely vital that this trend continues but my fear would be that if the scrappage scheme was halted now, the industry would go into decline again and jobs would be lost. This can’t be allowed to happen and it’s absolutely imperative that the Government renew the scheme for 2011,” said Deputy O’Mahony.
