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

Again, the Senator's efforts in highlighting this have been commendable. To support the objective of ensuring this equity, under budget 2023 some €563 million of funding has been secured for the PSO and Local Link services to provide State operators under contract by the NTA. This has been seen and felt right across the country. Funding was also provided for continuation of the 20% average fare reduction on PSO services and the young adult card on PSO and participating commercial services.

As the Senator is aware, at times inconsistencies in the existing fare structure have led to frustration among passengers. As such, the Minister for Transport has welcomed the publication of the NTA's national fare strategy, the implementation of which is intended to bring many benefits, including a fare structure, significant reduction in variability of fares charged, a clear structure that is easy to understand, a simplified fare structure for implementing fare determination charges, and a reduction in existing boundary issues, which is the matter the Senator has raised this afternoon.

On the issue of surety and clarity, that is what we wish to provide and I will take those messages back to the Minister and Minister of State on the Senator's behalf.