Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

On the fares, my intention is that we would continue the reductions we have introduced because a clear consistent signal works. There are other examples of other countries where they implemented quite dramatic fare reduction measures but they had to unwind them and a stop-start approach does not work as well. Our approach is working. Earlier I attended a Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, meeting - we have these quarterly meetings with employers and unions. They accepted what the Government did, not just in the budget in terms of energy credits but in reducing the cost of living at a time when the cost of living is a real problem with inflation, and reducing public transport fares, reducing college fees and reducing childcare costs was a way to get the economic balance right. We can maintain our budgetary position and we do not have what they have in the UK at the moment with everyone on strike. We can maintain people's income in real ways, not just by increasing everything but by sometimes cutting some of the costs the State has responsibility for. It is my sense that our economic approach worked so therefore, we should continue.

Work needs to be done on the fares side, and the Deputy knows this more than anyone else that because there are certain areas where on a geographic basis, it is very unfair. When one goes out to some parts of counties Meath or Kildare one goes beyond a certain range and then suddenly there is a jump in prices. Therefore, the fares are very unfair for long distances and bus commuters particularly. I believe that we need to update the fares structure so that it really does cover distance in an equitable way. Recently I met representatives of the NTA to discuss this matter. I expect us to publish an updated fares structure, not to increase fares but get rid of some of the anomalies for people, particularly for the likes of distant towns like Edenderry, Kildare and Naas. There are examples, particularly in the greater Dublin area, of injustices in some of our fares system. That work will need to be done but maintain the 20% reduction. This will not be easy because it does cost. We have a shortfall in meeting the public service obligation. I have ongoing negotiations with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to close that. I am confident we will but there is a cost and it is appropriate that the State would cover that.

With regard to the roads, the protection and renewal of the roads is being maintained because it is important. That is the thing you do not scrimp on because ultimately, it is much more expensive if you have to go back later. In other words, if you allow a big pothole develop and it corrodes the underlying surface then it is more expensive to repair than if you had maintained the quality of the surface in the first place.