Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)

-----an increase in public transport fares. The new Leap card zonal fare is harshly and dramatically impacting commuters travelling through zones 2, 3 and 4 especially. This impacts the Tánaiste's own constituency. I got a response from the NTA that said it is going to begin a scoping exercise of the impact of the new fare structure. I have schoolchildren in my constituency going from Donabate to Balbriggan who have to pay an extra €25 weekly due to these fares. The scoping exercise should be cancelled, the fares should go back to normal and an examination should be done before there is a change. This situation is having a major impact on families. We are trying to encourage people to use public transport and not to go backwards. In a previous response, the Tánaiste said he would arrange meetings with the NTA and a response from it on matters relating to this fare structure. It has not happened. I really need some progress on this matter.

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