John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of taxsaver tickets for public transport. Every single day, thousands of people from Dundalk and Drogheda in County Louth travel down the M1 on Matthews Coaches and Bus Éireann services, or take the train to Connolly Station or Pearse Station. They use taxsaver tickets to lessen the financial burden of commuting. They do this by getting tax relief on the ticket. An annual ticket on the Matthews Coaches service from Dundalk to Dublin costs €2,744. An annual Iarnród Éireann ticket from Dundalk to Connolly or Pearse station costs €3,620. I used one of these tickets for the last seven years when working here as a member of staff before we were given parking, so I know all about it. I spoke about this with a former colleague on Louth County Council, Councillor Martin Murnaghan, who also commuted to this House as a member of staff. We have come up with a pretty simple solution. The ticket can be used for five days a week. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, I ask that we consider reducing the ticket's operability from five days a week to three. In the Covid-19 era, working from home will almost become a way of life. We have to reflect those changes. I suggest that we ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to come to the House at some point in the near future to outline his plans for commuting and also for reducing the days on which the taxsaver ticket is valid from five to three days a week. This would help commuters financially.