Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is signalling work that needs to be done, and some of that work will take place next year. However, if we get ourselves to a point at which revenue is going up because of an improving economy, and the Government is also able to increase investment, it is my expectation that the fare increases we have seen in the past will not continue in the future, in either their level or their frequency.

An objective we must have is that, as we encourage more people to use public transport, two things must happen. The first is that it must be affordable, and the second is that we have to deliver a service that meets the needs of the public. That will need investment and it will need a recovery in revenue. We are seeing encouraging signs, but, I have to say, it is only recently that we have seen the kind of increase that the Deputy is referring to actually occur month after month. As these issues improve, it is my expectation that the fare increases of the past will not be the fare increases of the future.

See this speech in context