Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. We have had a reduction in public fares since this Government came to office. That has worked well. We have seen the number of people using public transport increase and it is now above pre-pandemic levels, which is not the case across most of Europe. That has been a successful policy.

The National Transport Authority published a new national fares strategy recently. I understand that will simplify the fare structure for the greater Dublin area and should mean lower train fares and bus fares for people in Drogheda, Newbridge, Naas and other places in the outer commuter belt. Any changes in the existing fare structure will be introduced later in the year. Of course, any changes will be dependent on the availability of Exchequer funding. The scale of what will be involved will depend on the Estimates later in the year.

See this speech in context