Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)

I thank the Minister of State for his commitment to come back with a more specific date. Now that we are in May, we should be giving commuters specifics in terms of when this funding that has been put aside will be used and when they will get the benefit.

One issue the Dublin Commuter Coalition has raised is whether there be a requirement for identity cards. Generally, identity cards are not used, but if some bus driver or operator decided to insist on them, will children under nine years of age need an identity card to prove their age? The Minister of State might clarify that.

On the wider issue, all Departments are starting to collate their budgets. Is reducing public transport fares a priority for the Minister of State and the Department in this budget? The Minister of State set out the cost for free public transport for everybody. No one is expecting miracles from the Minister of State in this budget, but is he looking to reduce some of the public transport fares in budget 2026?

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