Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I also welcome the recent 20% reduction in fares, as I have done previously, and the introduction of the youth travel card. Both changes are helping commuters and will make a difference but, as we all know, more is needed. The reason I tabled this matter is to once again highlight the totally unfair, penal and discriminatory difference in train fare prices between train stations in south Kildare and train stations inside the short-hop zone.

I welcome the creation of a focus group by Newbridge Community Development in the past number of weeks to advocate for an extension of the short-hop zone. I have spoken with the group's spokesperson, Jennifer Caffrey, in recent weeks. I will continue to support it and her in every way I can. The group is continuing to put together data on why these prices are so wrong. Since 2018, the local Labour Party in Newbridge has run a campaign to change the pricing structure. We met with Anne Graham, the CEO of the National Transport Authority, NTA, and presented her with 8,500 signatures from commuters in the area who also want to see a change in the pricing structures throughout south Kildare. Since that meeting, I have continuously raised the issue with various Ministers with responsibility for transport, the NTA and the Government at every opportunity.

Hard-pressed commuters are bypassing Newbridge and other train stations in south Kildare and driving to Sallins station in Naas to avail of the short hop fares. Who can blame them? Many people save up to €200 per month by choosing to drive past their local station in favour of stopping at Sallins station or simply by driving all the way into the capital for work. As a result, the N7 has become a car park and the Government has had to propose additional parking spaces at Sallins and Naas station.

As I have said in the context of previous Commencement matters relating to this issue, it is the human story that paints the true picture. I want to bring a few of the stories to the attention of the Minister of State . One person tells me they moved to Newbridge and get the train from Newbridge to Connolly. They avail of the tax saver scheme, costing them approximately €185 a month, but they work with colleagues who commute from Sallins and their tickets are almost €500 cheaper per year, so they are thinking of driving to Sallins.Another message I received reads:

Thanks for continuing to raise this. I travel from Kildare to Dublin by car most of the time because it’s cheaper than the train - even with skyrocketing fuel prices. That’s insane. So much for a climate crisis

Another says:

I’m living just outside Newbridge and work in Dublin. I always got the train from Newbridge but became so frustrated that my friend who is one stop away in Sallins paid half of what I paid each year. I now travel to Sallins twice a week because it's far cheaper.

It goes on and on. I can give the Minister of State as many examples as he requires. I have been told that an NTA review of the short hop zone pricing structure compared with the pricing structure for other stations and how these differences are impacting commuters is under way. That is to be welcomed but the CEO of the NTA is also on record as stating that, if funding was provided by the Government and the Minister, the NTA would be in a position to fix the pricing structure straight away. We are in a climate crisis. We need commuters using public transport from their nearest train station in south Kildare. It is the same case for all adjoining counties from which people travel to the capital. It is time this issue was sorted once and for all. Commuters have spoken with their cars. We need the Government to provide the funding. I hope the Minister of State has good news for the commuters of south Kildare this morning.