Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are taking dramatic, radical and substantial measures to do exactly what the Deputy has asked, namely, to get people out of private cars and onto public transport. We also have plans for Cork. I will not list the various measures because I do not have time but the Deputy will be familiar with them, especially those that apply to young people. Our ambitions are high but the costs are hefty. I believe the House will agree that the costs of not doing this are unacceptable. We cannot let our society drive itself unthinkingly into more congestion, more pollution and more harmful emissions. Enabling and promoting a shift to more sustainable forms of transport for a higher number of journeys will help to reduce Ireland's climate change emissions. Part of this work involves what the Deputy outlined, namely, to encourage and develop sustainable transport habits among different population groups, particularly younger people. The NTA is conscious of this in exercising its statutory responsibility in the area of fares. Each year, the NTA conducts a thorough examination of public transport fares and publishes on its website the details of this work and information regarding all fare changes it decides upon. The Deputy will be aware that the NTA sets the fares for children on public service obligation, PSO, services at a level considerably lower than the standard passenger fares. As noted, the NTA also runs some targeted promotional initiatives from time to time to stimulate fresh interest in public transport, including its Kids Go Free promotion offer in July, which was delivered through the Leap card integrated ticket for public transport.

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