Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this matter and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for making herself available to take it. As many Members of both Houses will know - the Minister of State has often heard me speak about this matter during my time in the Lower House - public transport is a key issue and key priority for me and the people of south Kildare. Newbridge is very much in the commuter belt, with many thousands of people commuting from there, and the area around it, every day. I regularly speak to constituents in all parts of south Kildare who rightly complain about the lack of appropriate public transport, and issues relating to reliability and a complete lack of rural transport linkages into towns such as Kildare and Newbridge, to avail of buses and trains to our main hubs, including Dublin.

If we are serious about giving people real options to avoid using their cars, we have to improve our public transport offering. Public transport must be consistent, reliable, accessible and affordable. For example, I have received a number of complaints over the years, and the past few months, about the 120 bus route. I am pleased its reliability has somewhat improved following my engagements with the National Transport Authority. I will give the Minister of State a flavour of the reality of using public transport in rural Ireland; I am sure she is well used to this in County Galway. One constituent had an important meeting at 10.30 a.m. in Clane. She waited more than one hour for the 9.32 a.m. bus, which never showed up. Likewise, the 4.30 p.m. on the 120 bus route from Clane did not appear that evening. She waited more than three hours for the next bus to appear. That is simply an appalling service. I am told people have waited more than three hours at that bus stop for the same bus. Many of them have lost count of the number of times the 120 has failed to arrive. Another constituent had an appointment at the eye and ear hospital and, inevitably, the bus did not arrive. That person had to frantically ring around to try to get a lift but could not, and then had to arrange a taxi at huge expense. Those are just two examples of the issues.

I have been a very vocal advocate for the extension of the short hop zone. I happen to be wearing blue today but am genuinely nearly blue in the face raising the plight of commuters in south Kildare. Newbridge railway station is not within the confines of the short hop zone, which means commuters cannot benefit from Leap card or fare arrangements. To purchase a return ticket this morning from Newbridge to Dublin Heuston and back costs €16.90. That is just for the train to Heuston. It does not cover any other public transport costs that would be incurred to get from the station in Newbridge into the centre of Dublin and on to Leinster House. However, if I travelled from Sallins, which is the next station and is in the short hop zone, I would get from Newbridge to Heuston to the city centre and back for €7.20. That is a 57% difference in price between stations that are just 12 km apart by rail. It is not fair and needs to be addressed.

It is not just an issue in the area where I live. From conversations with other Senators in my party and Deputies, this is happening on all the fringes of Dublin. Such a drastic price differential is forcing many commuters to drive to Sallins station, which is in the short hop zone, to avail of cheaper fares and the Leap card capping facility. That is a crazy situation. I know families who have second cars in order that they can leave Newbridge, travel on the road and park their car in Sallins. Many need a second car to enable them to bring their children who are students. I would appreciate it if the Acting Chair would indulge me a half a minute. These houses have passed the climate Act. Ireland is now on a legally binding path to net zero emissions no later than 2050 and a 51% reduction in emissions by the end of this decade. As it stands, people are driving what are often single-occupied vehicles past their local public train station to another station inside the zone because we are crucifying them on fares. It does not make sense.

To hear the media kite flying the suggestion of imposing a congestion charge, which I understand has been rightly delayed, is quite unbelievable. We cannot introduce a congestion charge until we have accessible and affordable fares. If we are serious about incentivising people to use public transport, we need to do just that. We need to incentivise and we need to be fair. I know so many people in Newbridge and Kildare who would love to leave the car at home and use public transport to get them to work and college. I thank the Acting Chair for his indulgence.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Acting Chair. I thank the Senator for raising this Commencement matter. It was great it was selected. I wish her and all watching a happy International Women's Day.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic with Members on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The Department of Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding with regard to public transport rather than the day-to-day operation of public transport services nationally.The National Transport Authority, NTA, has the statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally by way of public transport service contracts and for the allocation of associated funding to the relevant transport operators.

I assure Senator O’Loughlin that the Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options. Public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. To support this objective, in budget 2023 the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, secured €563 million of funding for public service obligation, PSO, and Local Link services provided by State operators and under contract by the NTA. As Senators are aware, in recognising the importance of incentivising more young people to use public transport, the Minister last year secured €25 million in funding for the introduction of the young adult card, initially on PSO services and then later extended to participating commercial bus operators. Funding has again been secured under budget 2023 for the continuation of this incentive. Further, in October last, the scheme was also extended to include third level students aged 16 to 18 which means that all those aged between 16 and 23 are now able to avail of an average discount of 50% across all services. Mature students in full-time education are also included in the scheme, as are eligible visitors to Ireland within the young adult age cohort. It is important to note that the discount is in addition to the 20% average fare discount on PSO services that was introduced in May 2022 as part of a suite of Government measures to help combat the rising cost of living. The Minister also secured funding for the continuation of this discount under budget 2023.

In regard to improvement of the public transport network, I am pleased to advise that the Minister also secured funding under the budget for the roll-out of new services and service enhancements. This will include the introduction of further service improvements under the BusConnects and Connecting Ireland work programmes, in addition to new town services and enhancements to existing services. This is also in addition to the extensive programme of public transport works such as DART+, MetroLink, electrification of the urban fleet, smarter travel, green schools, active travel grants, CycleConnects and many others.

In regard to Senator O’Loughlin’s query on the possible extension of the short hop zone, budget 2023 is focused on delivering the maximum benefit for all passengers. Funding was therefore directed toward the fare initiatives that I outlined, rather than any narrow application to specific issues which can arise with some fares at the edges of the current short hop zone. However, these issues are acknowledged by the Minister for Transport.

The NTA undertook a review of national bus and rail fares in the latter part of 2022 setting out a new strategy for national fares. The strategy will see the introduction of a new methodology for the determination of fares, whereby fares will increase in line with distance travelled beyond the 90-minute fare boundary. It will also remedy disparities which currently exist outside the short hop zone. This will encompass services within a new commuter area 48.5 kilometres from Dublin city, which is likely to result in fare reductions for many passengers availing of commuter bus and rail services. I am advised that the strategy is being finalised and an implementation plan is being developed in partnership with public transport operators. I am further advised that the NTA intends to announce the plan as part of a determination of fares in quarter 2 of 2023, with initial adjustments to fares in quarter 3, commencing in the Dublin commuter area. This is, however, dependent upon the ability of operators to introduce revised fare structures using existing ticketing equipment and back-office systems.

I do not know whether that answered the exact question Senator O’Loughlin asked in regard to the rail network. The answer focused very much on bus transport. She might want to come back to me on that.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the developments we have seen. It is important to acknowledge the progress that has been made. I met the NTA which mentioned the review it was undertaking at the time and indicated there would be a new strategy for national fares. That is good and important news, as is the expansion of the Local Link network. I particularly welcome route 888 which will serve Monasterevin, Rathangan and Kildare. We need a link from Allenwood to Lullymore into Rathangan. That is very important. I accept that the strategy is being finalised with the implementation plan. However, while I certainly welcome fairer fares, the introduction of the Leap card is hugely important for all the reasons I outlined including for people to travel freely within Dublin city to get to their destination. I thank the Minister of State for her response. I know she will take up the matter with the Minister for Transport.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I certainly will take it up with the Minister for Transport. I acknowledge the Senator's ongoing work on everything transport-related in County Kildare. When I ran for the European elections she made sure I travelled on a train to understand the challenges in the various commuter towns. I will certainly raise the matter with the Minister for Transport.