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because of a shortage of buses. In the middle of the crisis last week there was a big announcement to introduce 90-minute fares for Cork city. You might say to yourself that this is a bit of positive news. However, hidden inside that announcement was another announcement … saying fares for adults would increase by 26%. Fares are to increase by up to 26%. For an adult in Cork who commutes, that is the equivalent of an extra €240 a year. The Government gave Cork 90-minute fares and at the same time gave

conjunction with the relevant transport operators. It is clear this is an NTA responsibility. The NTA also has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers, which the Deputy alluded to, in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation contracts, including Cork bus services … July passengers using Bus Éireann’s Cork TFI city bus services will benefit from faster boarding times and a simplified 90-minute fare. This means that, for the first time, passengers would be able to catch any bus in the city and transfer between buses in Cork city

Minister of State referred to the new 90-minute fares and the fact that people can tap on and tap off. I want to let her know that the fare is €1.90 but next week, it will be €2.40. That is a 26% increase in the fare

increase from €658 million in 2025. This funding will go towards funding and subsidising existing public transport services while maintaining targeted fares including initiatives such as the free travel for all children up to the age of nine and the young adult card for those aged … part of the NTA's national fares strategy. The Department continues to engage with the NTA to ensure existing levels of service, resilience and driver shortages are considered to ensure that planning and strategic decisions are informed by operational and resource considerations. Some €31 million of this funding

that there are State agencies in this country that have absolute responsibility. The NTA has responsibility for the regulation of fares. It is important to outline that in order to counteract some of what the Deputy is saying. That said, I have taken note of what he said

dramatically. In 2019, there were about 60,000 users and that has fallen to 25,000 today. While initiatives like the 90-minute fare in Dublin have undoubtedly played a role, they do not fully explain this decline. The reality is that the tax saver model is built

supported young people with the young adult Leap card, which complements the student Leap card and which offers a 50% discount on travel fares across the Transport for Ireland network. That is practical assistance. My children use the student Leap card, which is a very helpful and practical

call it some sort of compensation. That is not compensation. It is a Government picking your pockets and handing you back the bus fare. That is what the Government has done on a regular basis. Let me offer two solutions to get to the root of this symptom

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Transport if the TFI 90-minute fare scheme in Cork, allowing adults to transfer between unlimited Bus Éireann city services within 90 minutes for a flat €1.70 fare, will be rolled out in other cities; and if he will make

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Transport to provide detailed reasoning behind the fare increase on buses in Cork City that will be introduced shortly; to detail the conversations that have taken place between his Department and the National Transport Authority in relation to this issue

that is being applied to the Department of Transport; whether his Department has committed to protecting the funding of public transport services and fare initiatives from this levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56564/26

Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to review the fare zones currently in operation across the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58941/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the estimated overall cost of introducing the 90 minute fare in Cork. [54096/26

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Transport to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); to detail to reasoning behind the fare differences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53600/26

asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to concerns that blind and visually impaired taxi users may incur higher fares where drivers rely solely on satellite navigation rather than following directions provided by the passenger, resulting in unnecessarily longer journeys; whether guidance, safeguards

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost to eliminate all fares across all PSO service for under 18s, broken down by service type, in tabular form. [51114/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the estimated full-year cost of abolishing fares on all public transportation services and publicly contracted commercial services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51341/26

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport the cost of maintaining the 20% fare reduction on public transport. [50698/26

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport the cost of increasing the fare reduction on public transport to 30%. [50699/26

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost to extend the 20% fare reduction to all commercial operators. [50745/26