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

years and, in 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 … costs for all across the lifetime of this Government. At a minimum, the new Government needs to guarantee that the cuts to public transport fares that were introduced in the previous Government will be maintained. We will be watching that closely in budget 2026. However, the Government needs

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

about 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

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

suggest to me 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 … 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 in the middle of a cost-of-living

Minister of State might clarify that. On the wider issue, all Departments are starting to collate their budgets. Is reducing public transport fares a priority for the Minister of State and the Department in this budget? The Minister of State set out the cost for free public transport … expecting miracles from the Minister of State in this budget, but is he looking to reduce some of the public transport fares in budget

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

cost of living are going to face fare hikes. I want the Minister to commit to retaining the reductions in public transport fares as part of this year's budget. Earlier this year we were warned by officials in the Department of public expenditure that key infrastructure projects … hear that services will be cut also. If the Government is trying to reduce carbon emissions and get people onto public transport, it cannot hike up the fares in this year's budget. We need an affordable, sustainable and reliable public transport system across every village, town

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

contribution. Affordability is key. We know that public transport users are price sensitive. It is important that the overall cuts in public transport fares that were introduced by the previous Government be maintained, as they are important cost-of-living measures. I heard what the Minister said about … least another 20% over the lifetime of this Government. The Minister was fairly uncertain on that particular point. Funding for public transport services is focused on existing fare initiatives. That is not ambitious enough. The Government should be looking across four budgets to be taking another chunk

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 of a new fares strategy, which is making fares fairer and moving towards a distance-based system … programme for Government, factors such as frequency and reliability are equally important in attracting and retaining users. Therefore, funding for public transport services is focused on existing fare initiatives and service improvements such as BusConnects in the five cities, expanding town services in the larger towns and rolling

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 of fare strategies, it helps … 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, Ireland's farebox recovery average

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

nearly a 50% cut. 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

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport the total cost arising from the reduced 20% public transport fares to the public and the reduced 50% public transport to students and young people under 24 years of age nationwide; if he is considering making the reduction permanent

Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport the total cost arising from the 20% reduction of public transport fares to the public and the 50% reduction of public transport to students and young people under 24 years-of-age nationwide; if he is considering making the reduction permanent

reduction on public transport in each of the years 2024 and 2025; and to estimate the cost of maintaining 20% decrease on public transport fares in 2026, in tabular form. [29624/25

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

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

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

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 Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport if he will rule out public transport fare increases in the forthcoming Budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45808/26

Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to extend or make permanent reduced public transport fares; and the assessment that has been made of their impact on passenger numbers and cost-of-living. [31115/26

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 Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport if he intends to increase public transport fares in 2026. [55600/25

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will abolish public transport fares as a cost of living, air quality and climate action measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51850/25

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport if he is considering public transport fare reductions in his Department's estimates 2026 submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34027/25