Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator O’Loughlin for her inquiry on the implementation of phase two of the National Transport Authority fare determination and, more particularly, its impact on the commuters of south Kildare. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan. From the outset I would like to clarify that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport, but neither the Minister nor his officials are involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally rests with the NTA. The NTA works with the public transport operators who deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. That said, I would like to reassure the Senator that the Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal.

To support this objective under budget 2025, the Government has provided a funding package of €652 million - an increase from €613 million in budget 2024 - for PSO and Local Link services for next year. This includes funding to support fare initiatives and for the continued roll-out of new services next year, including the continuation of the BusConnects and Connecting Ireland programmes and the planned introduction of further new town services.

As the Senator knows, as part of the programme for Government, we committed to review existing fare structures to ensure that public transport is as accessible as possible, supports the delivery of services and incentivises off-peak travel. In its capacity as fare regulator, the NTA published a new national fares strategy on 27 April, 2023, and a subsequent fares determination on 18 January this year. This strategy aims to address inconsistencies and make public transport more accessible.

I understand that the Senator's query is on the timeline for the implementation of this fares determination, particularly for commuters in south Kildare, and when those living in the area can expect to see the roll-out of the new Dublin commuter zone and a reduction in their fares.

The most significant change in this year’s fare determination is the implementation of the initial phase of the national fare strategy on Dublin commuter bus and rail services.This delivers more consistent and equitable fares and reduces the disparities that currently exist for some passengers, particularly in the outer commuter towns surrounding Dublin.

Under phase 2, the new national fare structure will introduce the Dublin city and Dublin commuter zones. The latter will extend approximately 50 km from Dublin city centre. This area was selected on the basis of a review of future public transport network proposals, for example, the implementation of DART+, along with analysis of ticket sales information to determine travel demand. The new commuter zone will include stations outside of the Dublin city zone extending as far as Rathdrum, Kildare, Enfield and Drogheda stations - it will also include Newbridge, to which the Senator referred - and will provide better value for passengers from these areas.

The Dublin commuter zone fare is designed to ensure that the cheapest fare is made available for passengers and will help alleviate boundary issues between national and city fare structures. For a journey from Newbridge to O’Connell Street, for example, passengers will benefit from the flat fare element within the city, facilitating longer distances of travel at a cheaper fare. For journeys entirely within the Dublin commuter zone, the standard national fare structure will apply.

I am advised that the implementation of these zones, initially targeted for quarter 3 of 2024, which Senator O’Loughlin referenced, has been delayed due to significant technical challenges, particularly with Irish Rail. These challenges involve integrating new stations, configuring ticketing systems and making necessary software changes. I have been advised that the technological updates to rail ticketing systems by Irish Rail's contractor are scheduled for completion in quarter 1 of 2025, a matter to which the Senator also referred.