Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I very much welcome the 50% public-transport fare reduction for young people aged between 19 and 23. It is a positive development. It makes public transport more accessible for younger people who are attending colleges and universities or doing apprenticeships and training courses. It makes public transport more of an option for those people, as well as helping our emissions from a transport perspective. It is very positive.

I have a number of issues with it.One issue that I have raised along with my colleagues in the House is that the younger cohort of students, namely those doing their leaving certificate examinations at 17 or 18 years of age, unfortunately do not qualify for this. That is something I would like to see addressed. I look forward to the Minister of State's response on that.

The other issue I wish to raise is more of an issue for those of us who live in the Border counties, including Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal and Louth. In that geographic region, there are many students who travel up north to go to college in places such as Belfast and Derry. Unfortunately, the scheme does not cover them either. Therefore, I have two asks: first, that the scheme be extended so 16-, 17- and 18-year-olds will also be able to avail of the 50% reduction; and second, that the Minister of State consider allowing the students who travel up north for their education to be included in the scheme.