Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Boland. Like the Deputy, I am eager to see next generation ticketing rolled out on the Irish public transport system. This will be across the whole Twenty-six Counties, across our whole transport system, that is, rail, bus and Luas. I look forward to seeing its introduction as part of BusConnects Dublin before ultimately being delivered across the entire public transport network. I acknowledge there is a sense of frustration among many that contactless systems of payment are not available here as they are in other countries, as well as a sense of frustration at the time it is taking to deliver the system here at home. The fact is we introduced a new ticketing system, Leap, just as the financial crisis took hold and investment in ticketing technology was cut back and took a long time to recover. That is just the truth of it. The good news, however, is that we do now have the funding available to make the move to new technology and the National Transport Authority has entered into a contract with Indra to deliver the project. The initial focus of the project is on the greater Dublin area, rolled out across four phases. This is a major, complex project, with an estimated capital cost of over €160 million to implement it in the greater Dublin area alone. Phase 1 is due to launch in summer 2027, which will test contactless payment on a small number of new validators or ticket machines. As we do this, obviously, we have to keep Leap running as well. Phase 2 will be ready in the summer of 2028, allowing passengers on bus and Luas services to use the next generation ticketing technology, including contactless payments on validators. Plans for phases 3 and 4 are under development. I met Indra and the NTA only a number of weeks ago. I am watching the project very closely myself. I gave a commitment to the House prior to the recess that I would meet the developers of the system and I have done so. I will continue to do so.

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