Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this topic, which is important to her constituency and her constituents. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I understand that the question relates to the inclusion of Skerries and Balbriggan in the TFI 90-minute fare initiative. The Department of Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding for public transport. However, the Department is not involved in the day-to-day operation of the public transport services nationally. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally by way of public transport services contracts and for the allocation of associated funding to the relevant transport operators. That being said, this Government is firmly committed to enhancing and expanding our public transport service provision across the country as, among other things, a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector. Some €538 million has been provided under budget 2022 for the provision of public transport services nationally. The Government is also strongly committed to helping combat the rising cost of living being experienced throughout the country. In this context, a 20% average fare reduction on public service obligation, PSO, services was recently introduced. These discounted fares will benefit the hundreds of thousands of people across the country who use public transport every day.

In recognition of the importance of incentivising young people to use public transport, a young adult card has also been introduced on PSO services to allow any person nationwide who is aged between 19 and 23 to avail of an average discount of 50% across all services, including city, intercity and rural services. It is intended to broaden this young adult card scheme to include commercial operators later this year. This will not only promote modal shift in the transport sector among the age group concerned but will also contribute to a reduced reliance on private transport with the associated benefit of transport emission savings. Further, a TFI 90-minute fare was introduced by the NTA to coincide with phase 2 of BusConnects, which gives customers the option to transfer between Dublin Bus, Luas and most DART, commuter rail and Go-Ahead Ireland services in Dublin at no additional fare.

In the context of the Deputy’s specific question regarding the possible inclusion of Skerries and Balbriggan in this 90-minute fare initiative, I advise that the TFI 90-minute boundary for rail services encompasses all zone 1 to 4 journeys taken from Dublin city centre. Accordingly, it extends, as the Deputy described, southwards to Bray station, northwards to Rush and Lusk station and westwards to Maynooth station. Residents can avail of a promotional fare of €2.30 when using a Leap card as long as they touch on their last journey within 90 minutes of the first. This allows for greatly enhanced integration of public transport services.

However, journeys between city centre and Skerries, Balbriggan, Kilcock, Sallins and Kilcoole remain as zones 5 and 6, as they are longer than most journeys on Dublin city bus or Luas. For zone 5, including Skerries, the 90-minute fare is €3 for adults and for zone 6, including Balbriggan, the 90-minute is €3.90 for adults. The 90-minute rule applies where this single fare covers the entire journey, provided the final leg is taken no more than 90 minutes after the first leg started. By way of example, a commuter could use a bus to travel to Balbriggan train station, take a train to Dublin city centre and a tram to his or her final destination all for the single 90-minute fare of €3.90.

Fare initiatives such as the young adult card 20% fare reduction and the 90-minute fare are hugely beneficial to public transport users and will not only provide modal shift but should also contribute towards reduced reliance on private transport and the associated benefit of transport emission savings.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

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