Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)

Fares are not set by me. We intend to keep the 90-minute fare. We will also be rolling out free transport for five-year-olds to eight-year-olds on PSO routes. We also have the fairer fares - there was a 50% reduction in rail fares for commuters in Drogheda. The Deputy and others have raised with me the anomaly with Skerries and Balbriggan. I have relayed that point, particularly on school transport fares. That is something that has been raised quite regularly. It is a question of trying to balance the fare structure to make it fairer and I have relayed the feedback on that to the NTA. I fully support the principles underpinning the NTA's fair fares. There are legacy issues with the transport fare system. I have mentioned the child fares which need to be looked at and I will ask for that to be looked at. The NTA is reviewing those options now. In a small number of areas, it was never anyone's intention to see a significant increase in fares, particularly school-going fares. That is being reviewed right now. I have asked for that to happen.