Search the record

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 made … people are going to pay more for them. That is the difference at the heart of this. Do we look to keep fares low and continue to enhance services or do we go with the Minister's approach whereby we can have one or the other? My colleagues

thank the Minister of State for the response. Will he please expand on his comment that child fares in several areas will be addressed? We in Sinn Féin believe that fares should be abolished completely for anybody up to 18 years of age. What exact areas does … mean? The Minister of State also mentioned that, due to inflation, fares were 8% lower in real terms but what he failed to say was that, between 2008 or 2009 and 2016, there was an incremental increase in fares. Will he give us a guarantee that there will

Just to let the Minister of State know, the fare hike came into Cork in July. What that means for adults going to work, college or hospital appointments is an extra €240 a year. On top of that now we will see the price … train. If you get the train or the bus you are going to see your fares going up. Has the Minister of State conducted any tests to see if people can afford to absorb these fare hikes? People are telling me they are being priced out. He talks

thank Deputy O'Gorman very much. I understand that nobody welcomes a fare increase but we are making a choice here to continue the progress that we have made in public transport because a low fare is no good if there is not a bus. There … enough buses so that there is a bus when somebody goes to get the bus. The only factor is not the fare but sometimes whether a person will get a seat or if there is a route. There are parts of this country where public transport is still

rise in recent years, with a record-breaking 363.5 million journeys undertaken just last year. As the statutory body responsible for regulating fares across services operated under PSO contracts, the NTA is central to shaping a public transport system that is fair, efficient and accessible. Through its management … fare strategies, it helps to ensure that pricing structures support social inclusion and the modal shift while also underpinning the financial viability and resilience of the network. Public transport fares in Ireland remain comparatively low due to a range of targeted measures introduced in recent years. For context

Taxi drivers have been staging protests about Uber, a billion euro company that is pushing a fixed-fare model onto drivers. They held a briefing here in the Dáil yesterday where representatives reported that this model, if it succeeded, could cut the earnings of many drivers … public. It is governed by the NTA on behalf of the Government and is licensed, Garda vetted, has vehicle standards and a public fare review every two years that the public can feed into and under which taxi drivers have themselves rejected increases. Is the Government

mentioned in my opening statement, the regulation of the SPSV industry, including the setting of fares, is a matter for the independent transport regulator. It is also important to say that taxi fixed price is a new trip option recently introduced by Uber in Ireland, whereby passengers … price is also available in other jurisdictions in Europe. How it works is that a price is displayed in advance showing the maximum fare for a ride, and the user pays the lower of the metre fare or the maximum price fare

Meath West commuters eagerly anticipated the new commuter fare zones being announced but they were disappointed in April to find out those only related to rail fares. We were disappointed again in recent weeks when the bus fares were announced. My own town of Trim only … minimal decrease in the fare but towns like Navan and Athboy saw an increase. The rationale given is that these fares now cover bus and rail. Unfortunately, as the Taoiseach well knows, we have no access to rail lines in towns like Navan and Athboy. I ask that

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

cost of public transport and to focus on increasing the reliability of our train services. In general, it is great to see the fare reductions and the expansion of the commuter zones that have come in this week. This is a positive step forward in making transport accessible … promoting active travel. I read last night an e-mail from a constituent who has been using the train since 1983. Her fare for her journey from Skerries, which is now being moved into zone 2, has increased by 30%. Another constituent, a student who goes from

bring some balance to this. Single fares for some routes will be reduced significantly. Drogheda to Dublin Connolly will drop from €11.95 to €6, which is a 50% reduction. Conversely, some fares will increase, most notably in Greystones, Sallins and Naas, and Skerries, which fall outside the city … zone. Within the Dublin city zone - the 25 km radius from the city centre - the fares determination will see a single monthly Leap fee of €96 and an annual fee of €960. This includes travel across all Dublin city bus, Luas and Irish Rail services within the Dublin

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 … cost-of-living crisis the Government is telling people the cost of yet another everyday essential is going to rise. This fare hike decision makes no sense. It stands in stark contrast to the massive pay rises handed out to the CEOs of transport companies. At a time

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 … service that is already falling short. Simply put, it is 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

address the overcrowding on our public transport services. We are now met with, "Hold all that; we're going to increase the fares." I will make this plea. Has anyone from the opposite side of this House sat on the M7 in the morning for hours … 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. Time

will give the Deputy a few examples of the reduction in the new fares for children. In regional cities like Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford, the new reduced fare is 33% of the equivalent fare. In town services like those in Athlone, Balbriggan, Clonmel, Drogheda, Dundalk and Kilkenny … child fares are cut to 50 cent. These are facts. What I said about fares being 8% lower than what they were eight years ago is also a fact. The Deputy asked about improving services. This year, we have spent €941 million in delivering PSO services

volume of users now and the demands. The Minister of State talked about 38% of the costs of the PSO being covered by fares but public transport pays for itself in other ways through reduced congestion, safer roads and lower carbon emissions. The idea that fares need … Ireland being relatively lower or higher compared to elsewhere does not really butter any parsnips for people who are impacted by these fare increases. AMLÉ, the association of student unions in Ireland, has come out in recent days looking for free fares for everyone under

these drivers. However, that is not sufficient, because we also need to legislate. Will the Government prohibit the use of algorithms to set fares and will it legislate to prohibit apps acting as third parties in negotiations on the fare between passengers and drivers? I am not saying … negotiate, but negotiations would have to be done human to human. Will the Government conduct an urgent review of the app-based taxi fare models and their compliance with taxi regulations? The Minister stated that the NTA said this was in accordance with the regulations. The apps

operators that deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. The NTA has statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under PSO contracts. They are the PSOs and the actual public ones. I assure … uplift from last year. It further supports subsidised bus and rail services across Ireland, including rural Ireland. This allocation also maintains targeted fare initiatives, such as the recently introduced free travel for all children up to the age of nine and the young adult card for those aged

that the station that serves Rush and Lusk is taken into the Dublin city commuter zone. This is really welcome. It means reduced fares, which is really important. However, those people who use trains that leave from Skerries or Balbriggan have been taken out of the Dublin city … straight line up - I am sure the Minister of State is familiar with the area. They will now have to pay higher fares while towns in Wicklow, Meath and Kildare are being brought into the Dublin city commuter zone. I am sure the Minister of State will appreciate

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

train in either Balbriggan or Skerries were left out of the Dublin commuter zone, meaning they have already had a fare increase. I spoke to a woman the other day who told me that the fare increase for her is close to €1,000 every year. That … extra money for one person to have to pay to then be told by the Minister that she has not had a fare increase in eight years. She has, and she really could do without another one. In fact, the Minister should be reversing the decision because

recent decision to hike fares by 15% is baffling. For some of my constituents in Kildare those increases will be closer to 20%. This will mean a €290 annual increase for Newbridge commuters and a €545 annual increase for Athy commuters. These are huge increases at a time … students, older people and those attending hospital appointments or social events. Travelling by bus or train should not be a luxury but these fare increases are pricing people out of public transport. Customers of Irish Rail and Bus Éireann certainly do not feel like they are experiencing luxury

towards free public transport, or certainly free for certain demographics in society. They are certainly not making tone-deaf decisions, such as increasing fares. There is no justification for doing that, even if, as the Minister says, fares have not increased in eight years. That rhetoric is simply … public transport services is at an historical high. We are also living in the midst of a climate crisis. What message do the fare increases send to commuters and public transport users? If we, collectively in this House, want to move as many people as possible away from

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 … 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 transport

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 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport the total amount raised by Dublin Bus services on ordinary ticket fares collected from passengers (via Leap card and cash) and through standard fare penalties for the year 2025, with each figure provided separately. [42325/26

Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport the total amount raised a company (details supplied) in Dublin and Wicklow on ordinary ticket fares collected from passengers via Leap card and cash and through standard fare penalties respectively in 2025. [42326/26

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport the total amount raised by DART services on ordinary ticket fares collected from passengers via Leap card, bankcard and cash and through standard fare penalties respectively, in 2025. [42327/26

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport the total amount raised by LUAS services on ordinary ticket fares collected from passengers via Leap card, bankcard and cash and through standard fare penalties, respectively, in 2025. [42328/26

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the balance between costs and fares to date for the rollout of the TFI Anseo project in Killarney; the amount the service generated in fares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22922/26

Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider the introduction of a fare cap for Young Adult Card holders travelling within commuter zones, similar to the daily and weekly fare caps currently available within the Dublin City Zone; and if he will make

Transport whether any analysis has been carried out by his Department, the National Transport Authority or Iarnród Éireann on displacement effects arising from fare increases, including commuters travelling from Skerries choosing to drive to and board trains at Rush and Lusk railway station due to substantially lower fare

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has conducted an analysis comparing public transport fares for buses, trains and trams in Ireland compared to fares in EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3442/26

Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of recent increases in intercity bus fares, including on routes serving counties such as Monaghan, namely, route No. 32; the oversight or engagement his Department has with commercial bus operators regarding fare increases; the measures

sector by pressing for a comprehensive review of dispatch-operator licensing; if he will advocate for clear regulations or amendments that address fixed fares, algorithmic pricing practices, priority fees and technology charges, ensure fare transparency and parity, and protect driver incomes; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the estimated total fare revenue nationally if public transport fares are to increase by 10%, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1642/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the estimated total fare revenue nationally if public transport fares are to increase by 20%, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1643/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the estimated total fare revenue nationally if bus fares are to increase by 10%, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1644/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the estimated total fare revenue nationally if bus fares are to increase by 20%, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1645/26

asked the Minister for Transport if he has met with representatives of the taxi industry following concern at the introduction of the fixed fare model; to report on these engagements; if there are plans to update regulations following the introduction of the fixed fare model

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport how delays to the next generation ticketing programme will affect the implementation of future fare policy reforms including zonal structures, fare caps and open payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70685/25

Boland asked the Minister for Transport the way in which delays to the Next Generation Ticketing programme will affect the implementation of future fare policy reforms including zonal structures, fare caps and open payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69482/25

Minister for Transport to carry out a review of the dispatch operator licensing system; to introduce an amendment or regulation clearly prohibiting fares below the taximeter; and to introduce stronger rules ensuring fare parity, transparency, and protection of driver incomes. [67341/25

Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport to commission a formal review into the fixed fare policy of a company (details supplied) and its compliance with the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 and the Taxi Regulation (Maximum Fares) Order 2024; and if he will make a statement

Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of any plans to conduct a review of app-based taxi fare models and their compliance with Irish taxi regulations; if he is aware of any plans to ensure transparency and parity in fare structures between

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the steps being taken to simplify fare structures to ensure equity train and bus fares, in particular for those commuting to and from Dublin Commuter zone 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51534/25

Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Transport the measures being considered to mitigate the impact of fare increases on students and young adults following the recent fare zone restructuring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51551/25

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the steps being taken to simplify fare structures to ensure equity train and bus fares, in particular for those commuting to and from Dublin commuter zone 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52161/25

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport the number of public transport passengers who have used the 90-minute fare in the year to date; whether he intends on maintaining the 90-minute fare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43122/25