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propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together. The National Transport Authority has statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation, PSO, contracts. Obviously this statutory responsibility supports the implementation of agreed Government priorities … transport system for all our citizens, including children. Under the programme for Government, our commitments include the roll-out of contactless payments, keeping fares affordable and examining the further expansion of free public transport for children. Specifically, budget 2025 included a measure to extend free child fares

increase in public transport fares. The new Leap card zonal fare is harshly and dramatically impacting commuters travelling through zones 2, 3 and 4 especially. This impacts the Tánaiste's own constituency. I got a response from the NTA that said it is going to begin a scoping … exercise of the impact of the new fare structure. I have schoolchildren in my constituency going from Donabate to Balbriggan who have to pay an extra €25 weekly due to these fares. The scoping exercise should be cancelled, the fares should go back to normal and an examination

This week we saw a new train fare structure rolled out around the Dublin area. While I welcome the simplification of fares, because I believe it was necessary, and also the reduction in fares for some towns, towns such as Greystones and Kilcoole have seen significant increases. This … having €20 billion in fines imposed on us by the EU if we do not meet our targets in this regard. The fare in Greystones has gone up by 30% for adults and something like 200% for a child, which is just incredible. Will the Government direct Iarnród

last point regarding the increases in some areas, there have also been massive decreases in other areas because the new ticketing and fare system for Dublin has created a fairer way of dealing with this. To go back to the affordability of public transport, it is important … state there have been many fare changes in recent years. For example, the Government is expanding free child fares and maintaining the young adult student leap card at 50% off, and there is also a 90-minute fare. These are initiatives to try to incentivise people

Department for Local Link services, which represents an increase from the €613 million. However, we have been encouraging young people through the fare reduction, the young adult card on commercial bus services and the 90-minute fare until the end of this year. There is also funding … from the city centre. This is combined with new inter-suburban and local routes. Free interchange is available using the 90-minute fare. As the Deputy is well aware, the new BusConnects Dublin network is being implemented in stages. For Inchicore, phase 4 saw the introduction

fares, my focus is on investing in our fleet and infrastructure. That will be Government's focus. This five years to the end of the decade can see a step change in our infrastructure. We have seen some significant projects in Ceannt Station, Galway, and Kent Station, Cork … looking at how we can do that better. Affordability in public transport is key. We have to be mindful of the levels of fares. The decision was made to bring in free travel for five-to-eight-years-olds. We want to see what

interesting that, literally, the only mention of affordability came in the last sentence of a two-minute contribution, and my question was about fare pricing. I know we have seen an increase in the number of people using public transport, which is fantastic, but we need … meet our targets for 2025 but that is clearly not going to happen. Disincentivising people from using public transport by putting up fares is not the way to do it. We have seen increases in train fares for people in Greystones, Kilcoole, Sallins, Kilcock, Balbriggan and Skerries. That

very practical sense. My hometown is one that has seen an adverse impact from this change. Admittedly, many other areas have seen fares decrease. I do not think it is good that we are seeing one town nearly being pitted against another as a result of this fare … structure. We have taken several measures to reduce public transport fares that I am proud of. We did that together in the last Government. I would like to meet the NTA regarding this issue. Perhaps those of us from constituencies impacted could seek to meet the organisation together

this. We know very well that as the review was carried out, there were some people, including in our constituency, who saw significant fare reductions, but there have also been what I regard as anomalies in that some towns have seen significant fare increases. In this regard … number of steps to try to help people with the cost of public transport, including the young adult card and the 90-minute fare. We have had money to extend that. We have seen a number of initiatives that have helped to reduce the cost and I would

Government has left people with no option. Every day I hear about train availability during peak commuting hours and how the fair fares have badly affected people in Sallins and Kilcock in particular. This is an issue that has to be looked at again. We cannot increase fares

considering increased demand. A large amount of money would be required to provide free transport for everybody. The Government is expanding the child fares, and maintaining new adult fares and the student Leap card 50% off. It is important for students and for young people, as the Deputy

Minister of State might clarify that. On the wider issue, all Departments are starting to collate their budgets. Is reducing public transport fares a priority for the Minister of State and the Department in this budget? The Minister of State set out the cost for free public transport … expecting miracles from the Minister of State in this budget, but is he looking to reduce some of the public transport fares in budget

commuting, often because student accommodation may not be available to them. On those costs, we have the student Leap card and fare discounts have continued this year. They were part of the budget negotiations by me last year in my previous role. That is very important for students

very proud in Dublin 8 of Inchicore and the historic part of the city that it is. We absolutely welcome the fare reduction, particularly for young people and students. It is excellent, especially if someone was to take three buses within the two-hour period. It is fantastic

with student housing as people come to Maynooth University. We know bus and rail services are under pressure. My constituency has seen increased fares in the third area of the county. I welcome the work of the Minister of State and the opportunity to discuss it with

fact. The students in my constituency are the victims of the Government's housing crisis. They are now the victims of its increased fares, so not only do they have to commute long distances, which absolutely wrecks them, they also have to pay more for the privilege. This

four or five people in a locality who can collect and deliver people within a radius of, for example, 10 km with set fares. These taxis or hackneys would be subsidised by a small amount by the State, as is proposed by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. These

licence is that only passengers within a designated range of 10 km can be picked up, as Deputy Kelly said, and a new fare may not be picked up at a drop-off point outside of that area. As Deputy Kelly stated, two licences are required. There

service would displace taxis. This cannot be a major consideration because the restrictions on drop-off and pick-up, and the limits on fares, mean the service will only be used in the limited circumstances I referred to. This is one of the main reasons it will

public transport operators operate very well. We saw record passenger numbers on public transport last year. People are responding because fares are affordable but there are issues from time to time, particularly in relation to our bus fleet and buses not turning up. That is why I have

have two final questions. First, the last time we debated on Oral Questions I asked the Minister to explicitly rule out public transport fare increases. Has he come to a decision on that? The second question has been rumbling on since Covid. It seems that in the transport

Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he will introduce a policy to ensure that there is no increase in public transport fares until we are on track to meet our transport-related carbon emissions targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23026/25

Minister to introduce a policy to ensure there is no increase in public transport fares until we are at least on track to meet our transport-related carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter

particularly in agreement with him about public transport being a good news story. They have seen an increase of 30% in their fares and children have seen an increase of 200%. It is very hard to sell that as a good news story to people in those towns

transport initiatives the Green Party introduced, which the Minister of State referenced. In 2023 there was a 20% cut to all public transport fares. These were the first cuts since the 1940s. There was also the introduction of the young adult travel card. Will the Minister of State

Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport the amount by which a child’s fare from Balbriggan to Dublin Connolly has increased following the new zonal adjustments introduced 28 April 2025 under the National Fares Strategy; the amount by which a child’s fare from Skerries … Dublin Connolly has increased following the new zonal adjustments under the National Fares Strategy; what this increase is for child leap card users; what this increase is for child ticket holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22080/25

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport to provide data on the number of people who have availed of free fares under the various fare reduction schemes; the cost of such schemes; the budgetary allocation in 2025 for free fares for children under nine years

Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an estimate of the annual financial impact that the new increased fare zones will have on commuters in Kildare north in comparison to previous fares, particularly those in Zone 2 towns in Kildare

Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will discuss the recent unfair fare increases on thousands of commuters living in towns in zone 2 of the new leap fare zones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22827/25

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport to examine the case affecting commuter fares (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26523/25

Transport if his Department will provide information on the NTA’s intention to rollout further changes during 2025 in relation to increased fare zones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25889/25

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the estimated increase in income Irish Rail expects to receive with the new commuter fares announced this month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23796/25

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the amount of income Irish Rail received from train fares in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23797/25

Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he will introduce a policy to ensure that there is no increase in public transport fares until we are on track to meet our transport-related carbon emissions targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23026/25

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport when commuters will be facilitated to pay public transport fares using a bank card or phone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22839/25

Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Transport to examine issues with commuter fares resulting from the new Dublin commuter travel zone (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22878/25

Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Transport to examine the case for a review of the TFI fare structure due to its impact on service users, such as a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22964/25

Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Transport when commuters travelling daily from Offaly will be provided the same access to fairer fares (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23062/25

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport the total cost arising from the 20% reduction of public transport fares to the public and the 50% reduction of public transport to students and young people under 24 years-of-age nationwide; if he is considering making the reduction

Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the planned rollout to the nearest month of reduced fares for five to eight year olds as promised in the Programme for Government, following the bedding-in period to ensure this can be implemented