Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 1230: To ask the Minister for Transport if he must give his consent to fare increases on the LUAS; if so did he consent to the recent increase on this service; if his consent is not required, the reason therefor; if he supports the recent increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1122/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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While there is no statutory requirement for Ministerial consent for the level of fares on the Luas, the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) provided my Department with prior notice of their proposals for a fare increase in 2007 and I conveyed my approval for a modest average increase of 2.75%. In approving that increase, I was conscious of the requirement to achieve a balance between the impact of the increase on passengers and the need to sustain the financial health of the system.

Subject to the approved average increase, it was a matter for the RPA to determine the details of the new fares structure which was announced by the Agency on 4th January last. I understand that, for the second year running, the RPA did not increase Luas SmartCard fares and child fares. SmartCard users can avail of average savings of up to 15% compared to single ticket purchases.