Search the record

public transport because people are crying out for better public transport across our country. When the Government announced its hike in public transport fares a month ago, it tried to justify that on the basis of new services. There was no reference in today's budget … figure of 140 new services that was mentioned when the public transport fares were announced a month ago. Where are the new Local Link services? Where are the measures to stop ghost buses? Where are the new bus services around our cities? We have to ask what

that this Government recognises the urgency with which we need to help households to decarbonise. Then we have the public transport fare hikes. It would have taken €70 million a year to prevent public transport fares going up. We are spending €100 million a month at the moment … transport to get to work, half of any gains they have made in terms of tax cuts will be swallowed up once those fare hikes come in in January. We are discouraging people from using public transport and prolonging our reliance on expensive and volatile fossil fuels

areas, but instead of making those critical investments now that would pay dividends in the future, this Government is penny pinching. Jacking up fares for public transport is the perfect example of this regressive and short-term thinking. These fare increases could have been stopped with investment

order to take the bare look off the lack of energy credits and real improvements in public services, and the incredible fare hikes that it decided to load on commuters in Louth, Kildare and across the country over the last period of time. This is a fundamentally dishonest … hard pressed to find the money to go back to school, or for the commuters who have been slapped around the face with fare hikes. Likewise, there is no help for pensioners whose weekly payments have been swallowed up by the rising cost of everything and who will

places such as Balbriggan that passenger numbers can decline, even though it is a growing community. When service reliability came under pressure and fares increased in 2025, we saw a 5% decrease in passenger numbers at Balbriggan train station. This makes absolutely no sense. Balbriggan is the youngest … need a railway that people want to use. That means not only safe infrastructure and modern signalling systems but also reliable services, competitive fares and a passenger experience that encourages more people to leave the car at home, not the opposite. Every investment we make in safety

properly expand renewable energy, including offshore wind, without delay. It requires actively promoting active travel and public transport, not increasing public transport fares as the Government has. Most importantly, it requires us to choose those who are struggling over investors who want to boost their own coffers

benefit to Drogheda. Rail services have improved. There has been a 40% increase in passenger numbers on the hourly Enterprise service. The fairer fares initiative last year significantly reduced costs for commuters, particularly rail commuters, in Drogheda and Dundalk, which was widely welcomed but was not mentioned

Government forgot last year; the public sector workers still left without any pay deal; the commuters facing a 15% increase in public transport fares; and renters facing eviction into homelessness. What the Government produced will come as cold comfort to workers like Martina, who contacted me today

retrofits. It is just 2% at a time when applications have doubled. Just a month since the National Transport Authority, NTA, announced that fares would go up by an average of 15% in January, the Government did nothing to make public transport and active travel more affordable

Instead of ensuring citizens have access to affordable transport, the Government expects the public to foot the bill. Public transport fares will increase in January. In Donegal, where there is awful public transport, barely enough rural services to provide any help to the rural community, it is shocking

have ensured the protection of about 1.5 million people who use public transport for free and are eligible for free or reduced fare travel. Between the significant additional funding received through both the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and the Department of Transport, we are doing

worth, in effect, €250 for the year or about €5 per week. It is not even enough to cover the recent commuter fare hikes. The cost of energy, rents and groceries are soaring. This is not a budget that makes housing affordable, tackles other priorities such

still have no sign of BusConnects. It is still delayed until 2028. It was initially promised in 2025. We now have a fare increase that is 15% above inflation. Loads of well-populated urban areas in Limerick have no public transport. The Government should have front-loaded that

button for the heating, immersion or cooker are not winners today. Nor are public transport users facing down €70 million worth of transport fare hikes. Who does win? For as long as the Government relies on the private market to meet the public need, the private market will

householders. I call it a €4.80 budget and I will tell the House why. There is the 15% increase in public transport fares that the Government intends to plough ahead with in January. The Government has failed to address the cost of living. There is no reduction

carbon tax on the diesel that gets them to work, and they are getting up early in the morning for the bus fare that will be up 15%, effective from January. Last Thursday, five days before this budget, the PRSI went up again

have a car. The irony is not lost on them that the same Government stood over an increase in public transport fares in recent times. You really could not make it up. On green diesel, again, farmers need more support. We have called for a 17 cent reduction

these horse-drawn carriages. Right now, if you want to drive a horse in Dublin city and pick up passengers for a fare, all you need is a horse and carriage. You do not need a licence, there are no regulations around horse welfare and nobody checks

much to ask. People travelling from Tralee to Dublin, sometimes with children also, and students heading to college are paying fares which were reasonable until the latest hikes. They should not be expected to undertake such a long journey without basic refreshments. The attitude that some routes warrant

State should make that journey as easy as possible. I have been very vocal in my critique of the increase in fares that is coming in January. I will not go into that today. Basic things, such as people being able to hear what is happening with their

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date on the introduction of a simplified fare structure under the BusConnects Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of implementation; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated completion date for implementation; the estimated cost range attributable … this element of the programme; what should be expected as part of the implementation of the simplified fare structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74224/26

Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport the reason 16, 17 and 18-year-olds are required to pay full adult public transport fares while providing a 50% discount to 19 to 25-year-olds, including adults earning a full-time income; the reason a 16-year … secondary school student with no income can therefore face a fare twice that paid by a 15-year-old travelling on the same service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71546/26

Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport the reason the promotional fares on the Ballybrophy rail line are being discontinued given the success of the initiative. [74369/26

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport the amount of fare revenue that his Department expects to generate from PSO supported services in 2027. [72106/26

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport whether he has received advice from the NTA on fixed or discounted fares set through app-based taxi dispatch platforms; whether the current Taxi Regulation Legislation adequately covers such pricing models; whether regulatory or legislative changes are being considered