Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. This matter relates to the young adult travel card. The Minister of State might recall that on 4 September 2022, a scheme was introduced whereby all students attending colleges and universities and doing apprenticeships and training courses would received a 50% reduction in the travel fare in order to allow them to attend their courses, etc. A few months ago, I asked that the Minister extend this further to include all students.I was glad that scheme was introduced and I welcome it. It makes for good public transport by making it more attractive. The discount is a great idea, not just from a cost-of-living point of view but also from a climate perspective. As the Minister of State knows, the 50% reduction relates to journeys to and from college in the South. As I said, this has been very welcomed and well received by all concerned.

Unfortunately, there is an issue with the scheme, one which I raised with the then Minister the last time I tabled a Commencement matter, regarding students from the Republic of Ireland who are attending colleges north of the Border. I understand there are approximately 2,000 such students. They live predominantly but not exclusively in the Border counties, as they come from various parts. Unfortunately, the scheme, as currently designed, does not cater for those individuals, which is unfair. I asked the Minister to have this examined and he stated he would get on to the Department with a view to having that done. When I contacted the Department and National Transport Authority, NTA, I was told that for a student from the Republic of Ireland attending a college in the North, the 50% fare reduction would apply for the portion of the journey that takes place in the South. However, the reduction does not apply to the portion of the journey taken in Northern Ireland. This is unfair to the students in question and their families given the cost-of-living increases. As the Minister of State knows, sending a child to college is very expensive. I ask that fairness be brought into the scheme.

There is a precedent for this in that pensioners with travel cards are able to travel north of the Border. The card is as good in the North as it is in the South, and rightly so. From a shared island perspective and with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement approaching, it is high time that this worthwhile and welcome scheme was extended to all students.