Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The challenge is that many of those who were in receipt of concessionary tickets, while they certainly welcome the reduction in fees, would have been prepared to continue to pay some sort of fee as it would still have represented a reduction. The fear is that many people may have applied for tickets simply because the service is now free. I am not discounting the fact that it is an enormous benefit to families. It is difficult. We all know of people who had been getting a concessionary ticket up to fourth or fifth year suddenly being told they no longer have a ticket. Families are prepared to pay for tickets but they are unable to access them.