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

As I have said, I accept it is not good for public transport and for this country's climate change agenda if fares go up at such a rate that they clearly make the use of public transport unattractive, particularly for families. I remind the Deputy that the most recent fare determinations differ considerably from the fare determinations that were made earlier in the crisis with which this country had to deal and from which we are now looking to emerge. In response to the Deputy's question about investment in public transport with particular reference to the level of subvention, I will set out where we are now. When the budget that will come into effect next month was announced, the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, and I were able to provide for an increase of €28.5 million in the current funding available to the CIE group. That single increase restores almost 30% of all the funding lost by the group over the last seven years.

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