Seanad debates
Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Public Transport
10:30 am
Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this matter. I appreciate having the opportunity to talk about something very positive, although I am looking for some more detail on its implementation. This is very important for commuters in south Kildare, Drogheda, Wicklow and parts of Meath. Since my election to the Oireachtas, I have advocated very strongly for better commuter fares for south Kildare. The population in Kildare has grown a great amount over recent years. Because of the price of accommodation, rent and housing in Dublin, many people who are working or studying there travel from Kildare every day. It is really important that we get the whole area of public transport right. It needs to be accessible and affordable. I have worked closely with the NTA and the Minister of State, Deputy Jack Chambers, in recent years. Of course, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, represents this whole area at Cabinet.
Our main issue related to the differential between the fares from Sallins, which is the short-hop zone, and from the next stop, Newbridge, which is outside that zone. The differential there was very big. People were basically bypassing Newbridge Station to park in Sallins, keeping cars on the road when what we all want to do is to keep them off the road and to have people use public transport, which is something I know the Minister of State is very committed to. The launch of the new national fares strategy by the NTA was certainly a very positive step in the right direction in bringing greater price equity to local commuters. We waited a number of months to find out what the final fare would be. Last week's announcement was really important for the people I represent. The reduction in a single adult fare from Newbridge is 45%, which is very significant. People in Kildare town will see a 37% reduction. This new outer Dublin commuter zone is really important. We had the Minister of State, Deputy Jack Chambers, down the week before to put another bit of pressure on. We have had a number of false dawns but are now really on the way towards providing a better deal for local commuters. Under the new determination, the single fare from Newbridge to Dublin will be €6 while the same fare from Kildare town will be €7.50. It is a great win and I am really glad to have played a part in it. I pay tribute to Jennifer Caffrey and the short-hop zone lobby group, who have done a lot of work over the last two years to keep the pressure on with regard to this issue.
We are obviously very keen to ensure this is implemented as soon as possible. As soon as we have a very positive announcement, all of the questions come along. Most importantly, when are we going to see these fares being put in place? We want to see them as a matter of urgency. Commuters in Newbridge and Kildare have been paying multiples of what their peers in Sallins pay for years so we want to see this rectified as soon as possible. We also want to see town buses in Newbridge and Kildare that will collect people in estates and bring them to the train. We want to see the new carriages that have been committed to and integrated ticketing being brought in as part of next generation ticketing. However, the most immediate issue is the timing and ensuring that these fares are implemented as soon as possible.
Pippa Hackett (Green Party)
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I thank Senator O'Loughlin for her Commencement matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic.
I want to clarify that the Minister has responsibility for policy and overall funding as regards 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 transport services nationally rests with the National Transport Authority, NTA. The NTA works with the public transport operators, which deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters.
That said, I reassure the Senator that the Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options. Public transport clearly plays a key role in the delivery of that goal.
To support that objective, under budget 2024, a funding package of €613 million has been secured for public service obligation and Local Link services. This package includes funding for the continuation of the 20% fare reduction on PSO services, the extension of the young adult card on both PSO and commercial bus services to include 24- and 25-year-olds, and the continuation of the 90-minute fare until the end of 2024. Funding has also been secured to support the continued roll-out of new and enhanced bus and rail services this year.
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, on 27 April 2023, the NTA published a new national fares strategy. Following that, on 18 January 2024, it published the first of a series of fares determinations related to the strategy. The Senator's question is about the timeline for the implementation of this fares determination and, in particular, when those living in areas such as Kildare and Newbridge can expect to see a 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 an initial phase of the national fares strategy on Dublin commuter bus and rail services. This will deliver more consistent and equitable fares and reduce the disparities which currently exist for some passengers, particularly in the outer commuter towns surrounding Dublin. The Dublin commuter zone to which Senator O'Loughlin refers will extend from the outer edge of the Dublin city zone to approximately 50 km from the centre of Dublin and includes areas such as Naas, Kildare and Newbridge. The Dublin commuter zone fare is designed to ensure that the cheapest fare is made available for passengers and will help to alleviate boundary issues between the national and city fare structures. For example, for a journey from Newbridge to O'Connell Street, 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.
The Senator asked about the when. I am advised that it is expected that the new fare structure will come into operation on the Dublin commuter services by the end of quarter 3 of 2024. In the interim, the existing fare structure will continue to apply.
This fare determination represents the first step in delivering the national fares strategy, and it is the NTA's intention to roll this out further across the country in future determinations in the months ahead.
Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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Obviously, this is good news. It is certainly good news for many who will be using this. The Minister of State has clarified that it will probably be the end of September before this comes in. I know it will not be long coming. It is always a little painful when something is announced and you have to wait quite some time before it comes in. I do appreciate that the implementation comes down to the NTA, but the Government plays a very important part in setting the policy and ensuring that the money is put in place.
I take on board too what the Minister of State says about being strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic mobility options and the fact that she mentioned Local Link. Local Link is hugely important in ensuring that people get to the point from which they can travel to the city. I ask the Minister of State to take all of that on board in terms of all the supports that need to be put in place.
Pippa Hackett (Green Party)
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The Senator is right that the whole thing has to be integrated and connected. The call for Local Link to bring people to the train stations is an important aspect of this. It is something I will bring back to the Minister, Deputy Ryan. I understand the wait is a challenge but, as the Senator says, this is good news for these towns. I hope it is the start of something we will see rolled out further.
I remind Senators that more and more people are using public transport. I think the reduction of fares we have seen over recent years has been a real driver of that, but also, people are changing. We have a young man from Portarlington in the Gallery. I trust he got the train up from Portarlington because that is a very good service too.
I thank the Senator for the Commencement matter. This is a good news story.
Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State for taking time from her busy schedule to be with us this morning. We appreciate it.
We await the arrival of a Minister of State to take our next Commencement matter. We will suspend the House for three minutes while we wait for the Minister of State to arrive. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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The sitting is now resumed and I ask Senators to take their seats. We are waiting for a Minister to attend for Senator Clonan's matter. As the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell is here, would Senator Clonan mind if we went on to the next matter and came back to his?
Tom Clonan (Independent)
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No. In fairness, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell is here.
Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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We will come back to Senator Clonan. We will proceed because the Minister of State for the next matter is here and I know he is anxious to get away because he has business to do.