Wales can do better just like Ireland

MR Robert Ian Williams wrote a wonderful letter (Western Mail, August 30), saying that it would be very expensive if Wales should become independent like Ireland.

So why not look at his claims?

■ A trip to a GP costs €60. Not true, health care is free, yes people can see a GP privately, the same as the UK.

■ An A&E visit is billed a €100. Yes, but only if you are involved in an accident, such as a car crash and it is capped at €800 annually. The NHS also has a similar set up.

■ A stay in hospital costs €75 a night. Everyone living in Ireland is entitled to stay in hospital free, but those not resident may be charged. ■ School transport and text and exercise books are not free. My adult daughters left school years ago and we paid for these thing then and higher education was very expensive for them

■ Car tax can be up to €750. Yes that’s true, but the average is about €150-220 and like the UK electric cars are free. However the VED in the UK for a Lamborghini Aventador will cost an eye watering £2,070.

■ There is no £12,500 tax free threshold on income. Again true, but the average wage in Wales is £1517,000, the average in Ireland is €45,000 and a couple would start paying tax at a threshold of €43,000 at 20% unlike 40% in the UK, and NI contributions are set at 4%, which is why lots of Irish citizens chose to buy private medical insurance to be seen quicker.

Also child poverty is much lower than Wales. Unemployment benefit is four times that of the UK.

As for the £10bn subvention from Westminster, they take far more from Wales by the back door than is handed back.

Mr Williams, when I wrote the letter on how Wales would be better off independent like Ireland, it was an example. I could have used Malta, Slovenia or numerous other examples. I just believe that Wales can do better. Rob Lowe Pen-clawdd, Abertawe