Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer.

Nicole Ryan (Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State for being here today. This matter concerns the lack of Leap card access for journeys starting from Banteer and Millstreet to Cork city, and the absence of an early train from Banteer, which is an issue that forces students to make impossible choices every week.

A woman in my constituency reached out to let me know that her daughter travels to college in Cork every day. She works part time and studies full time. Like so many others, she is doing her best to make it work. Because Leap card fares only apply from Mallow to Cork and not from Banteer and Millstreet, her daily journey costs considerably more. For young students, the difference does add up. Over a week, that is money that could have been put towards groceries, potential rent or even just a small bit of breathing room. It is not fair that two students sitting side by side on the same train pay two completely different fares simply because one lives a few stops further into rural Ireland.

This is not just about the cost; it is about opportunity and fairness. Many of these students live in Banteer, Millstreet, Kanturk and the surrounding areas simply because they cannot find or afford accommodation in the city.The accommodation crisis has pushed them home, not by choice but by necessity. When we are talking about regional development and sustainable transport, this is what really matters. These young people are trying to do the right thing. They have made it to college despite every obstacle, like rising rents, housing shortages and limited public transport, yet they are being penalised because they live outside the commuter belt.

To make matters worse, the early morning service from Banteer to Cork city does not run on Mondays. There is a train at 7 a.m. On every other weekday that allows students to reach UCC, or Munster Technological University, MTU, for 9 a.m. lectures. On Mondays, however, the first train is not until 8.25 a.m., which is far too late for morning classes. What happens? Students then have to make other arrangements. Some travel to Mallow by car just to catch the early train, adding extra expense and time to already long days. Others simply miss out on their Monday lectures. It is a small scheduling gap but it has big impacts for these students. Rural students are doing everything right and they are constantly reminded their communities do not count in the same way. Whether it is transport, broadband, housing or healthcare, there is always an extra cost, an extra hurdle and the extra things they just do not qualify for.

All we are asking for is a bit of fairness. Can the Minister of State please extend Leap card access or provide fare parity to include journeys from Banteer and Millstreet to Cork city to ensure students are not penalised because of where they live? If there are technical or infrastructure barriers, could the Minister of State please outline a clear and immediate plan to address them and provide an interim fare solution in the meantime? Can the Monday morning gap in the timetable also be addressed to ensure there are services from Banteer that allow students to reach Cork city before 9 a.m.?

This is about giving rural students a fair start and saying where you are from should not determine the opportunities you can access or how much you have to pay for them. Today, therefore, I am asking that the Leap card be extended to Banteer and Millstreet and for the Minister of State to try to restore the early Monday morning service. These students have already overcome so much and they deserve the very best. Just for us to make their journeys to education a little bit easier should not have to cost the world.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Ryan for raising this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O’Brien. I clarify at the start that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in 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 passenger services nationally rests with the National Transport Authority. The NTA works with the public transport operators that deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. The NTA also has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation, PSO, contracts.

That said, I 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 in the budget just announced, the Department secured €940 million in funding for PSO and Transport for Ireland, TFI, Local Link services, providing a significant 43% uplift, which is an increase from €658.442 million last year, the allocation of further supports for subsidised bus and rail services across Ireland as well as maintaining targeted fare initiatives such as the recently introduced free travel for all children up to the age of nine and the young adult card as part of the NTA’s national fare strategy.

On the Senator's specific query regarding the need to extend Leap card fare access to students, I clarify that, as Members will know, there are currently two Leap card options available that offer 50% discounted travel for young people and students. The young adult card is available to all young adults aged 19 to 25 and the student Leap card is available to full-time students aged 16 to 18 and to those aged 26 and over. To qualify, students must be in full-time education and training for at least 16 hours per week. Any student who meets the eligibility criteria, supported by a valid student ID indicating full-time status and-or a letter from an institution, will be issued a student Leap card. The NTA encourages all customers to use the TFI Leap card to ensure they receive the best possible value on fares. Leap card users can save up to 30% compared with paying with cash, making it a more cost-effective option for regular travel.

In relation to train services, Senator Ryan and the Members will know we have invested significantly in recent years in our national rail network, particularly in Cork, to create a more efficient, safe and better service for the people of Ireland. The opening of a new through platform at Cork Kent Station last April represented a landmark day in the delivery of the Cork area commuter rail programme. This platform will facilitate Cork commuter trains to travel through Kent Station from Mallow to Midleton or Cobh without requiring passengers to change services, which will support a better rail service.

A public consultation on phase 2 of the programme, which includes the delivery of eight new stations, provides upgrades to existing stations, including Mallow, and provides for the electrification of the new Cork commuter rail system, concluded in July.Phase 2 works will be advanced following the completion of phase 1 and subject to funding and relevant approvals.

The improvements in frequency provided by the Cork area commuter rail programme will also benefit passengers travelling from stations on the Tralee line, including Banteer and Millstreet, who can interchange at Mallow station and travel onwards to Cork Kent Station. The development of infrastructure from the Cork area commuter rail programme will increase capacity and frequency from Mallow to Cork. As fleet becomes available, this will provide opportunities for service expansion on the network, which is subject to agreement with the NTA.

The new DART+ fleet will add significant capacity in the greater Dublin area, and will be then redeployed elsewhere on the network, based on demand and infrastructure capacity.

I have two questions for the Senator. Can she quantify the number of students who are discommoded, in terms of this Commencement matter, and cannot travel from Banteer or Millstreet to Cork city on a Monday morning? The Senator mentioned that students cannot arrive on time for their classes in the morning. What is the earliest train the students can take to travel to Kent Station? I ask because there is a good bus system between UCC and Kent Station. I would like the Senator to quantify the number of students who are discommoded so I can go the NTA on her behalf.

Nicole Ryan (Sinn Fein)
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I would have to conduct a survey because I do not know how many students are affected. It was just one constituent and one mother who came to me about the matter.

Banteer has no bus service at all. The earliest train from Banteer to Cork Kent Station on a Monday morning is at 8.25 a.m., which means that students cannot make their 9 a.m. class because the train only arrives at Cork Kent Station just after 9 o'clock.

On the ministerial response, I know the rail service is not entirely the brief of the Minister of State but what we saying to students right now is that they cannot use their Leap card because that option does not extend to Banteer or Millstreet. Young students and people who have a Leap card cannot use their card to pay for travel between Millstreet and Cork Kent or Banteer and Cork Kent. They can only use their Leap card from Mallow. Essentially we are saying people cannot use their Leap card and, equally, there is no improvement to the service that only leaves Banteer at 8.25 a.m.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I will take up the remarks made by the Senator. I think she will agree with me that the Government has invested €940 million in the PSO and Local Link services for next year and that demonstrates the commitment of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I, along with the Department of Transport, to a sustainable, equitable and accessible public transport network for all, irrespective of where people are from. The Government and the Department of Transport are fully committed to investing in public transport services for the improvement of our transport network, not just countrywide but also in Cork, while also maintaining the financial sustainability of the system in the long term.

The programme for Government is very much committed to rolling out contactless payment, and to keeping fares affordable and equitable. As I said, in the case of Cork that new through platform at Cork Kent Station represents a landmark change in the delivery of the Cork area commuter rail programme. It will also allow for greater frequency. This platform is the first element of the Cork area commuter rail programme. It will also have other effects in terms of Glounthaune, Midleton, etc.

I will raise the situation in Banteer with the NTA and Irish Rail. I am not familiar with the situation and if the Senator conducts a survey on the matter, I would be happy to convey the information on her behalf. Again, I thank the Senator for raising the matter this afternoon.