Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Transport if there will be a price increase in the cost of Cork-Dublin rail tickets once the new service commences; and the person, in the absence of an independent public transport regulator who will be sanctioning such a price review. [28447/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Although without statutory basis, it has been a long-standing convention that increases in standard single CIE fares require approval by the Minister for Transport. However, in the context of wider reforms of the public transport market, it remains my intention to establish an independent national public transport commission to regulate the market. Among the range of functions I am considering for such an independent commission is the regulation of fares.

While my Department has received no specific request for a fare increase for the proposed new Cork to Dublin rail services, CIE has in recent days applied for a general fares increase effective from January 2006. This application is being examined in my Department.