Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are in the middle of a climate and cost-of-living crisis and need to do everything we can to offer alternatives to car journeys. People in south Kildare and Laois drive to Sallins, north Kildare, to avail of the short hop zone. An annual rail ticket from Newbridge to Dublin costs €1,900 while an annual rail ticket from Sallins to Dublin costs €1,500 but includes travel on trains, Luas and buses.

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It is €400 more for an extra five minutes' journey. It does not make sense. Will the Tánaiste commit to extending the short hop zone to encourage people to make the switch to rail travel, which would help the environment and save commuters money?

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