Young drivers should be able to avail of car insurance on a pay as you method according to Sean Naughton.

A Sinn Féin candidate in the Killaloe Municipal District for May’s local elections, Sean maintained there is little assistance available to assist young people in securing affordable car insurance. “Where I live in O’Briensbridge and in many other parts of East Clare, in Kilkishen, Tulla, Broadford, Bridgetown, and Scarriff when jobs become available, young people often have no option but to drive because there is no other way of getting to work. Like myself, they depend on family and friends to help with transport to work. Which can be nearly impossible for families with only one car.”

He told The Clare Echo, “When young people living in rural areas try to insure a car, they find themselves being quoted astronomical prices. It would not be unheard for a young person to be quoted €4,000 to get on their mother’s car insurance as a named driver. It is not an option for a young person to take out their own car insurance because of the higher costs involved. When a young person living in a rural East Clare community finds a job. This work can usually be low paid or casual and will involve some means of transport and travel. With no effective public transport service young workers have little option but to drive on a low income.”

Sean declared young people were “imprisoned by impossible car insurance premium prices. Insurance companies are simply closing down opportunities for young people to get insured and get on with their lives. So something radical must be done to ensure that people can get insurance so they can drive cars in rural Clare.”

Naughton concluded, “The promotion of pay-as-you-go car insurance cover should be widely available to young people. Pay-as-you-go car insurance could be a fixed insurance fee of €150, plus a deposit of €50 for fire, theft and black box monitoring technology. Allowing for a notification of the distance of traveled to be received and a related cost. Of course if no action is taken on car insurance this will all feed into the migration and emigration cycle and the consequences for rural young people and rural decline.”

Related News

trees shannon rossbracken
Flynn shaking the trees to get more contractors in Shannon
Shannon Estuary, County Clare, Ireland
'Huge opportunity coming down the Shannon Estuary'
sli na mara boreen 16-03-21 1
Continuous rock pelting in Boreen heightens call for greater visible Garda presence in Shannon
joe whelan 1
Ferguson Tractor Museum opens in Kilrush
Latest News
clare v antrim 16-03-24 andy mcentee 2
'He told one of our players to f*** off' - McEntee leaves Ennis furious with match officials
st josephs miltown v doonbeg 15-08-20 11
Lissycasey, Ennistymon, Miltown & Clondegad lead the way with Cusack Cup opening round wins
sli na mara boreen 16-03-21 1
Continuous rock pelting in Boreen heightens call for greater visible Garda presence in Shannon
clare v antrim ladies football 17-03-24 carla mckenna teresa collins 1
Clare parade past Antrim with ease to claim St Patrick's Day promotion
joe whelan 1
Ferguson Tractor Museum opens in Kilrush
Premium
clare v antrim ladies football 17-03-24 carla mckenna teresa collins 1
Clare parade past Antrim with ease to claim St Patrick's Day promotion
clare v limerick minor football 21-04-22 4 darren keane
Solid start for Clare's U20 footballers with win over Waterford
clare v cork 04-02-24 david reidy 2
Clare top Division 1A and qualify for league semi-finals
clare v antrim 16-03-24 joe mcgann kavan keenan 2
Clare footballers hold off Antrim to keep up fight for promotion
primary care centre ennis 1
Slow pace continues for primary care centres in Ennistymon & Sixmilebridge

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Scroll to Top