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Éireann" and substitute the following: "affirms Government's efforts to: — deliver a more frequent, reliable, accessible and sustainable public transport network; — rollout contactless fare payments on all public transport, and keep fares low and affordable; — place the Public Service Obligation (PSO) programme on a more sustainable footing; — support … implemented, patronage rose by 38 per cent from 2023 to 2024, and is up by 165 per cent compared to early 2019; — passenger fare revenue is a critical component of the funding base, and is essential to maintaining the financial sustainability of the network into the future; — since

delivery of BusConnects and Connecting Ireland, commuter rail expansion and future investment, while ensuring public transport remains reliable, accessible and affordable. The proposed fare adjustments are necessary to underpin these objectives and support the long-term sustainability of the network. Maintaining affordable fares must be balanced with ensuring … year, supporting people to make that switch from private car use, it is important to recognise Ireland has maintained an effective eight-year fare freeze alongside targeted affordability measures, including the young adult card, free travel for children up to nine years old and the 90-minute fare

deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. The NTA also has statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation, PSO, contracts. In its capacity as fare regulator, the NTA under … responsibilities within the 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

which deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. The NTA also has statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation, PSO, contracts. In this context, the NTA published the national … fares strategy in 2023. This aims to create a more equitable, consistent and easy-to-understand fare system based on distance travelled. In line with this strategy, the NTA published fare determinations in January 2024 covering the Dublin city zone, 25 km from the city centre

obligations and TFI Local Link services. That is an increase from €613 million in 2024. This funding also supports continuation after a 20% fare reduction in PSO services, the young adult card for both PSO and commercial bus services and the 90-minute fare until … Funding is also being secured to extend free child fares on PSO services to include those between ages five and eight and to support the roll-out of new enhanced bus and rail services under programmes such as BusConnects and Connecting Ireland. The NTA has strategy responsibility

operation of the small public service vehicle, SPSV, sector. The National Transport Authority, NTA, the independent transport regulator, has responsibility for setting taxi fares under the provisions of the consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. On 3 November 2025, Uber Ireland introduced a new option … From a legislative perspective, section 24 of the consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016 empowers the NTA board to make a maximum fares order fixing the maximum fare that may be charged by the driver of a taxi for any journey. The current maximum fares order took

operation of the small public service vehicle, SPSV, sector. The National Transport Authority, NTA, the independent transport regulator, has responsibility for setting taxi fares under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I am informed that on 3 November 2025, Uber Ireland introduced … From a legislative perspective, section 24 of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016 empowers the NTA board to make a maximum fares order, fixing the maximum fare that may be charged by the driver of a taxi for any one journey. The current maximum fares order

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 transport helps to reduce household costs, tackle transport poverty and help workers and families cope with the rising cost … living; and — commuters are being asked to pay higher fares while continuing to endure unreliable and overcrowded services, including so-called "ghost buses" that simply fail to turn up, leaving workers, students and families stranded and out of pocket; further notes that: — the Government has prioritised pay rises

thank the Deputy for the question. As he is aware, the NTA in its capacity as fare regulator, recently announced the revised national fare structure to take effect from January 2027. While adult fares will increase by an average of 15%, child fares are being reduced in several … areas nationally. This represents the first broad adjustment to fares since 2018 and follows a period in which operating costs have risen sharply. In the Dublin commuter zone, in regional cities, in participating towns, and on TFI Local Link services, a new reduced child rate will apply

statutory body responsible for regulating fares across services operated under the PSO contracts the National Transport Authority is central to shaping a public transport system that is fair, efficient and accessible. Through its management of fare strategies, it helps to ensure pricing structures support social inclusion and modal … shift while also underpinning the financial viability and resilience of the network. A significant milestone under the national fares strategy was reached in July 2026, when a simplified fare structure already in place in Dublin was extended to Cork. Passengers there can now avail

escalate this quickly without them being met. The issue is a just issue. The National Transport Authority, NTA, reviews fares for taxis every two years roughly. Those fares are reviewed and a new fare is brought up relating to the type of car, the cost … women, especially younger women passengers. They know who their driver is. There is a record kept of the journey. Freenow guesstimates a fare. A person orders a taxi. If he or she wants to go from Rathfarnham to Leinster House, Freenow offers them a guesstimate of how much

here to reply. Bus commuters on the Cavan-Dublin route were absolutely shocked to learn on 16 June of a massive increase in fares from that date. A daily return ticket from Cavan to Dublin was increased from €18.50 to €27.30, an increase of almost … been supported practically unanimously by the Oireachtas. To encourage people to switch to public transport there is a need for reasonably priced fares. The decision by the National Transport Authority in the case of the route I am discussing is not fair and it is not equitable. Those

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 who are already … struggling through a cost-of-living crisis, with public transport fares set to increase by an average of 15%. This will have a significant impact on those individuals and families who rely on public transport. For many people living in my constituency of Dublin Central, the impact will

delivery of this goal and in enabling us to make continued progress with regard to our climate obligations. On fares, the Government is committed to delivering an accessible, reliable and affordable public transport system for all citizens, including children. In the programme for Government, our commitments include … roll-out of contactless payments and keeping fares affordable. We saw the announcement of fairer fares, their implementation and an examination of the further expansion of free public transport for children. We have extended the 20% fare reduction and a 90-minute fare on public service obligation services

thank Deputy Ahern for his question. As the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have said, the recently announced change in fares were the first revision in eight years. The change is aimed at supporting not just the continued expansion but also the improvement of public transport … Department of public expenditure as part of the annual Estimates process, which has not yet concluded, for next year. On an overall basis, fare revenue only covers approximately 38% of the cost of operating the PSO services nationally, with the remaining costs funded by the Exchequer

choice. In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, they have chosen now as a good time to hike up public 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 … example, standard fares in Limerick, Galway and Waterford are going up by 26% under the guise of simplification. Child rail commuter fares in Cork are actually increasing by 130% because of new rules around standardisation. For a short hop journey on Dublin Bus, the fare is rising

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

deliver the services and that have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. The NTA also has statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation, PSO, contracts. However, unlike PSO services - where the NTA sets … monitors, and regulates fares - services operated by commercial bus operators fall outside this remit. Fares on services run by commercial bus operators are determined independently by the operators and are a purely commercial decision. That said, I assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to delivering

Government, there are some points within it that require clarification. Those points will be highlighted throughout the ministerial contributions. On the fares initiative, as Deputies are aware and as outlined in the Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future, the Government is committed to keeping fares … public service obligation, PSO, and Local Link services this year. The package includes funding for the continuation of the various public transport fare reduction initiatives and the extension of free child fares on PSO services to five-to-eight-year-olds. Most recently, the NTA commenced implementation

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

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

There is great alarm, anger and concern among taxi drivers across the country because of the moves by Uber to introduce a fixed fare system. As outlined in the question by Deputy Pa Daly earlier, he alluded to the very serious question on whether this fixed fare being … legislation in this country, which is designed to protect the regulation of the taxi industry, the livelihoods of taxi drivers and the existing fare structure based on the taximeter. This is negotiated every couple of years and takes into account the need for taxi drivers to have

particular, the fact that over 1 million public transport journeys are now taken each day; — the reductions in all public transport fares that were introduced in April 2022; — the additional reductions in public transport fares for young adults between 19 and 25 via the Young Adult and Student … number of people using these services, with 100,000 journeys taking place on Local Link services every week; notes that: — further reductions in fares, balanced with investment in capacity, will bring even more people onto public transport; — a focus on continuous improvement in passengers' experience is now critical

Minister and everyone here knows these fares are illogical. We have a cost of-living crisis. Again, the Minister knows and everyone knows that people are really struggling. We want to get people out of cars and into public transport, and the Government doing this by increasing fares … completely counterproductive. People are talking about average increases of 15%. In Dublin, the short Leap fare is going to increase by 33%. I have been speaking to people in my constituency. They are very frustrated and angry. They are really going to be hit by this. The Dublin

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the reason commuters using rail services in the Galway metropolitan area do not benefit from fare structures equivalent to those available through the Transport for Ireland integrated fare system in Dublin; and whether consideration is being given to extending integrated … metropolitan rail fares and fare caps to Galway. [68878/26

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the total passenger fare revenue received in 2024 and 2025, the projected passenger fare revenue for 2026 and the projected passenger fare revenue for 2027 following implementation of the NTA Fares Determination 2026, broken down by operator, in tabular form

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport further to the statutory requirement that a taximeter continue to calculate the metered fare even where a lower fare has been agreed, and that the driver print and offer the prescribed taximeter receipt showing the total fare payable together … designated space for tips, discounts and tolls, whether app-based dispatch operators are required to display to the driver the exact final fare charged to the passenger on each journey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63424/26

Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he is he aware of the increase in child fares based on travel by zones impacting school children from an area (details supplied) given an increase in the fares from €6.50 return per week to €10.60 weekly fare which … increase in fare at a time when many families are struggling; the way in which he proposes to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58190/25

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 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 … 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 on the matter [67278/26

Transport Authority carried out an assessment of the cumulative impact on passengers at Balbriggan and Skerries of the April 2025 Dublin Commuter Zone fare changes and the further fare increases due in 2027; and whether affordability and the scale of the cumulative increase were considered in determining … fares. [65118/26

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the estimated additional fare revenue to be generated in 2027 as a result of the NTA Fares Determination 2026, broken down by operator and service type and the assumptions underpinning these estimates, including projected passenger numbers and any anticipated impact … fare increases on passenger demand, in tabular form. [65108/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the additional fare revenue projected to be raised in a full year by the average 15% increase in Public Service Obligation fares taking effect in January 2027; the current annual Public Service Obligation subvention; the proportion of the operating … cost of PSO services currently met by fare revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64821/26

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 … card payments; the progress made by the NTA on developing and implementing the new contactless fare-payment system; if the system will provide daily and weekly fare capping comparable with Leap card; and the target date for nationwide availability of contactless bank-card payments on bus services. [62322/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport in the case of an app-based fixed price fare (details supplied) where the passenger is charged the lower of the fixed price or the metered fare, the way in which a driver is expected to accurately calculate … record the discount on the statutory taximeter receipt in circumstances where the driver is not shown the final fare charged to the passenger; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63425/26

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport whether Iarnród Éireann or the National Transport Authority have undertaken any review of fare structures on the Athenry-Galway rail line in light of concerns regarding disparities between fares charged to commuters on regional rail services and those charged … comparable commuter journeys within the Dublin area; whether consideration is being given to classifying the Athenry-Galway route as a commuter service for fare purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40087/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport if he will examine the feasibility of introducing an audio fare announcement system in taxis, similar to the Marquay model used in parts of the United States, which provides audible confirmation of the starting fare, route and final fare

Minister for Transport if he will review the pricing structure on the 40 route between Macroom and Cork, in particular the €7 fare for students with a Leap card, which is a significantly higher fare than for comparable journeys in the Dublin commuter belt; if he will commit … fare reduction in line with other urban and peri-urban routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38739/25

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider the introduction of a maximum Leap card fare in regional cities, similar to the 90-minute fare in Dublin for €2; the way in which this will fit into the new National Fare Strategy

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

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 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 Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport if he will take steps to reverse the recently announced bus and rail fare increases; the engagement he had with the National Transport Authority before the announcement of the bus and rail fare increases. [64394/26

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

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport if alternatives to the January 2027 fare increase were considered, including the estimated cost to the Exchequer of maintaining Public Service Obligation fares at 2026 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64823/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport which document is to be treated as the authoritative fare and expense record where the amount shown on an app transaction differs from the amount shown on the statutory taximeter receipt, and whether the transparency and reconciliation … controlled fares against the statutory taximeter receipt will be expressly addressed in the current review of dispatch operator regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63428/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport in respect of a discounted app fare product (details supplied) reported to be part-funded by the driver and part-funded by the dispatch operator, the amount a driver is required to enter in the discount field … statutory taximeter receipt, whether the driver-funded element or the total passenger discount; the amount that is to be recorded as the total fare paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63427/26