Search the record

support this; and — the NTA continually works with operators to improve efficiency and maximise value for money from both fare revenue and public investment, however, public transport services have expanded significantly in recent years, and operating costs have increased substantially, a sustainable public transport network requires an appropriate … Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the NTA announced an adjustment to national fares as per its new fares determination on 3 September 2026, with the revised fares taking effect from January 2027. This is a critical step in the standardisation of the national fares structure and in line

students, households and pensioners are facing renewed and significant increases in the cost of fuel and energy, as well as increases in public transport fares, adding further pressure to an already severe cost-of-living crisis; and — the Government is directly contributing to this cost-of-living crisis … impose strict price controls on fuel, energy and groceries and abolish standing charges for electricity and gas; — stop the planned increases in public transport fares and introduce free public transport to incentivise public transport use; — introduce a €500 energy credit in the Budget, to be funded

Government should be building on those investments, not undermining them by pushing people away from public transport. For every 10% increase in public transport fares, ridership is estimated to fall by 3%. Instead, the Government has decided to place another financial burden on individuals and families … shift, the Government is allowing public transport to become more expensive. The contradiction is even clearer when we look at the Government's own record. When fares were cut in 2022, Ministers explicitly argued that cheaper fares would encourage people onto public transport and reduce our reliance

Opposition are all of one mind on this. There is absolutely no way we would be proceeding with an increase in public transport fares at this time. I have read the Government's counter-motion and I read the Minister's comments earlier. By reading them, you might … This week marks German Unity Day. We barely have a unified Luas system here. I am genuinely baffled by this decision. Keeping public transport fares low is good policy. That has been borne out by the fact that we have seen huge increases in the numbers on public

Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 made the decision to publish a new fares determination on 3 September 2026, with the revised fares taking effect from January 2027. This is a critical step in standardisation of the national fares structure and in line with the national fares strategy that … cost of operating public transport services, which has limited the NTA’s ability to improve services or introduce new services to the Transport for Ireland network as part of wider capital investment under the national development plan. Ireland has maintained an effective eight-year fare freeze alongside targeted

pleased to support the cut in public transport fares in the aftermath of Covid by between 20% and 50%, depending on what kind of ticket passengers were using. At that time, the rationale was expressed that lower fares made public transport more attractive and more accessible and, therefore … emissions and congestion, etc. What is the evidence base for this decision that will lead to a significant increase of 15% in public transport fares? Is this something we could mitigate in some other

Government has chosen to increase the cost of public transport for those who rely on it, and at a time when fuel costs are spiralling out of control; — the National Transport Authority (NTA) has acknowledged that increasing fares will result in fewer people using public transport; — affordable public … prioritised pay rises for public transport chief executive officers in conjunction with fare increases for commuters; — this Government have failed to provide adequate funding to the NTA to both expand services, and maintain affordable fares; — despite repeated promises, the rollout of improved public transport services has slowed significantly

transport network in the coming years, offer the most competitive fares to younger and student passengers and ensure the value for money of the PSO subsidy to society. As articulated earlier, the recently announced change in fares is aimed at supporting the continued expansion and improvement of public … overall. Fares have to play a role, therefore, in rebalancing that equation. The adjustments to fares are required to help offset the cost increases in recent years, improve fare revenue recovery and ensure the sustainability of the PSO funding. We are at a key juncture for public transport

sheer audacity of the Government proposal to increase public transport fares is breathtaking. The Government wants to increase public transport fares while large parts of rural Ireland are still waiting for public transport that actually exists. In Offaly, people are not talking about buses being too cheap. They … provide a direct public transport link across parts of Offaly, Westmeath and Laois, is stalled because there is no funding available. It is not delayed because of planning or staffing but because the Government has simply not provided the money. The Minister says fares have to rise

transport fares - not by the rate of inflation, which is 3% or 4%, but by an average of 15%, and far more for some journeys. For example, standard fares in Limerick, Galway and Waterford are going up by 26% under the guise of simplification. Child rail commuter fares … million. If €70 million is provided to the NTA in this year's budget, it would remove the need for these public transport fare hikes. It would protect low-income workers from this hit. Why do the financial struggles of workers who take the bus and train

prices are rising and Government is silent. Electricity prices are rising and Government is silent but Government is not silent on public transport fares. In fact, instead of being silent on it, it has decided to increase them. Instead of assisting struggling households it has decided to make … There is a clear message that I want to give to the Minister for Transport who has disappointingly just left the Chamber. Public transport fare price increases have already had a devastating impact on Galway families. A number of individuals in Galway have contacted me to say that

able to sustain indefinitely. We have climate, cost-of-living and energy crises, yet the Government is slapping 15% onto public transport fares because the capital plan for transport is not worth the paper it is written on. That is a fact. It is a complete fiction … serious about public transport, then it would fund it properly. We are spending €100 million per month at the moment and cutting public transport fares, or at the very least sustaining the reduction, is a cost-of-living support that puts money back in the pockets of ordinary

simply rejected these. The Government's big idea, its answer, was to propose, as we know, an average increase of 15% in public transport fares. For those who may say we only give out here on the Opposition benches, let me be clear. My colleagues have been clear … including by the NTA itself, reduce the number of those using public transport by more than 4.5%. It is time to cut fares on public transport. It is time to deliver a reliable, available and comfortable service, which everybody in this State deserves

thank Deputy Daly from Sinn Féin for bringing forward this motion on public transport and fare increases. Instead of working towards … goal and trying to increase bus services in rural areas, this Government is taking a step backwards. The decision to increase public transport fares by an average of 15% to 30% next year is a major step backwards. The people of Donegal simply cannot afford this type

decision to hike the cost of public transport fares is a deeply short-sighted move. Every day, thousands of commuters are forced on to overcrowded and often unreliable services. From January, these people are going to have to pay more to get to work, school, college … fare hikes are a mistake and that they will reduce passenger numbers. The Minister must act to stop these fare hikes. He must ensure the State's public transport system is properly funded in order for it to be affordable, reliable and sustainable. The Government is also failing

middle of a cost-of-living crisis. Everything is more expensive. The last thing we should be doing is hiking public transport fares and putting more costs on the people who get up early in the morning, as the Government likes to say. If we want people … private cars, we should reduce transport fares and increase the number of people who are entitled to free public transport, particularly those under 18 years of age because what we will then see is those young people developing good habits at an early age. This is a slap

costs but what kind of transport system we want to build for the decades ahead. The Government should reject further increases in public transport fares and instead begin a serious transition towards a universal, free public transport system as a public good. That would require investment and sustainable

Increasing public transport fares during a cost-of-living crisis is wrong. It is short-sighted, unfair and hits those least able to afford it hardest, namely, young people, students, pensioners, workers and families already struggling to make ends meet. People are being asked to pay more … higher fares for an incomplete service. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has noted that a 10% fare increase results in a 3% decline in passenger numbers. Why are we making public transport more expensive when we should be encouraging more people to use it? It shows once again

Government must reverse the 15% average increase in fares for public transport announced by the National Transport Authority for 1 January. This increase worsens the cost-of-living crisis and undermines climate policy. Switching from private cars to a comprehensive system of public transport, not just in cities … available in the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund to reverse these increases and build a nationwide system of free, reliable and accessible public transport. This fare increase is moving in the wrong direction and is out of step with many of our European neighbours, where public transport

communities, to help the hundreds of thousands now in arrears on their energy bills and the commuters facing enormous and outrageous public transport fare increases? The Minister needs to invest in alternatives. He needs to make it easier to switch to solar power, heat pumps, electric vehicles, bicycles

National Transport Authority's, NTA, plans to increase public transport fares by an average of 15% have come as a hammer blow to commuters already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. Fares for some will rise by up to 35%. Certain cohorts of students have been excluded … find €400 million to subsidise diesel, it has the power and resources to make public transport affordable. The Labour Party is asking whether the Government give commuters a break and stop this fare hike

depend on public transport are already struggling with ever-increasing household costs. The Government has proposed that from January 2027, adult public transport fares are set to increase by an average of 15%. In Dublin, the 90-minute Leap card fare will rise from €2 to €2.30. There … this cost-of-living crisis. Particularly now with the high cost of fuel, many of my constituents are becoming more dependent on public transport. There has been an overhaul of the provision of public transport in my constituency, yet despite promises of better connectivity, there have been numerous

society - only some energy users and only some road users. Electricity and gas prices are already going up by at least 10%. Public transport fares are to rise by even more. The price of diesel and kerosene will rise further and it is oil and energy companies that … feeding into higher inflation. Input costs for construction, transport, fertiliser and so on will lead to even higher food and housing costs next year. Wages will have to rise but the Government is turning its back, for example, on public sector workers. Families are really struggling with soaring

huge expansion of bus services all over the country and at the same time they saw a 20% cut in everybody's public transport fares, a 50% cut for young adults and the securing of the funding to ensure under-nines could go free. Those were political choices … going to see a 15% hike in their transport costs. This is a political choice. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have made the wrong choice here. They should provide the NTA with that €70 million, choose to expand public transport and keep it affordable. It can be done

Those policies are working because the fare points are right. We know that increased fares reduce passenger numbers. The Government has made a decision in the last couple of weeks that it knows will be tantamount to a reduced level of service demand at a time when … going to come from. What I am looking for is detail to ensure that no public transport services suffer, and no further public transport fare increases happen, because

Daly asked the Minister for Transport the measures he is taking to address the concerns that the recently announced rise in public transport fares will discourage the use of public transport; the measures he is taking to ensure that the use of public transport is affordable

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport his views on the NTA’s decision to implement price increases on public transport fares; his views on whether this goes against the Government aims to incentivise the use of public transport; and if he will make a statement

asked the Minister for Transport to outline the analysis undertaken by his Department regarding the impact of the recent NTA announcement on public transport fare changes and the effect of this on rural commuters; and the steps being taken to ensure public transport is affordable and accessible

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport if he will engage with the National Transport Authority to review the proposed public transport fare increases due to take effect from 2027, particularly in light of concerns regarding affordability, the impact on rural commuters in County Kerry

Transport if he will provide the €70 million in funding that the NTA says is required to avoid the increase in public transport fares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68009/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport If he is considering intervening to halt proposed increases in public transport fares. [67405/26

Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Transport his views on the proposed increase in public transport fares; if this will be reconsidered in the budget; and when the fares will come into effect. [67321/26

Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport to reconsider the introduction of a 15% increase in adult public transport fares given the current cost-of-living crisis. [64459/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport to estimate the cost of eliminating public transport fares for student Leap Card holders and for under-25 Leap Card holders; and the cost of eliminating fares for both together. [64963/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport to provide detailed reasoning for the announced increase to public transport fares from January 2027; if any engagement has taken place between the NTA and his Department regarding how increased fares could be avoided; and if the increase will

asked the Minister for Transport to report on the engagements he had with the NTA to discuss the recently announced increase in public transport fares; to report on all meetings including the times he met with the NTA to discuss this issue in person; and the dates

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether the recently announced increase in public transport fares is justified; and if he will consider reversing this increase and ensure that it does not go ahead in January 2027. [64567/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport to urgently reconsider the increase in public transport fares by 15% in 2027 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64709/26

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport to reconsider the increase on fares on public transport. [64561/26

Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the projected annual cost of eliminating all passenger fares on public transportation and funding services solely through public funding. [67120/26

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update as of September 2026 on the proposed increased fares on public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67661/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport to provide a full copy of the research showing the relationship between passenger fares and public transport usage recently discussed at the Transport Committee (details supplied). [67362/26

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the status of the Government’s commitment to introduce contactless fare payments across public transport, including the use of ordinary debit and credit cards and mobile wallets on bus services; the bus services and operators that currently accept contactless bank

Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Transport if he will intervene to reverse planned fare hikes to public transport in the new year, that will have a negative impact on commuters. [66894/26

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 16 September 2026, the child fares that will be reduced as stated in the response; if he anticipates that the fare hikes on public transport will lead to a reduction … public transport as reported by the National Transport Authority, NTA, at the Oireachtas committee hearing on 16 September 2026; if he has considered reversing these proposed hikes; if there will be any other changes to fares as part of budget 2027; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Transport if he will intervene to stop fare hikes of 15% hitting public transport users in 2027, considering cost of living pressures, the recent tax break to motorists, and the imperative from a climate perspective to promote sustainable transport. [64505/26

Transport the work that has been carried out by his Department to analyse the impact of the recently announced fare increase on the affordability of public transport; if he will publish this analysis; and to outline a date for publication. [64568/26

carried out by his Department or the National Transport Authority of the projected impact of the January 2027 fare increase on passenger numbers and on progress toward national public transport journey targets; if so, if that modelling will be published; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the way in which the decision to increase the Public Service Obligation fares by an average of 15% from January 2027 is consistent with the target in the National Sustainable Mobility Policy, as updated by the Climate Action Plan

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the amount the National Transport Authority has estimated would be required in 2027 to maintain public service obligation fares at 2026 levels; whether the Department has sought that amount in the Budget 2027 Estimates process; and if the Minister