Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is a day of good news all around Leinster House today. It is a welcome development that the eligibility requirements for the scheme are being expanded to allow 16-, 17- and 18-year-old students in third level education to apply for the student Leap card so they can also avail of the 50% discount. I am pleased to be able to reassure Senators Gallagher and Wall that the NTA has already commenced the technical work on expanding the scheme.

I am advised that this work is scheduled to be completed in the coming weeks, at which point those third level students aged 16, 17 and 18 will be able to order a student Leap card and avail of the discount.

On the two specific questions, as I said, we will ask the NTA and get a response on Senator Gallagher's question on the Border counties and particularly on the question on the commercial operators. We will get a response on those.

I thank both Senators for raising this matter. It is certainly a very positive development that young people all over the country and their families will welcome. There is no doubt about it.