Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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169. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the date he expects the youth travel card scheme to go live; and the progress the NTA has made to expand the eligibility of the scheme to include private bus and coach operators in order to avoid the exclusion of young persons living outside large urban areas in which public transport is not readily available. [2839/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport, nor decisions on fares; however, I do have responsibility for public transport policy and overall funding and as such, I was delighted as part of Budget 2022, to secure €25m to provide for the introduction of a youth travel card (YTC).   

The YTC will allow any person nationwide who is between 19 and 23 years old to avail of an entitlement for discounted travel costs and to increase the level of discount over and above the current student discount to an average of discount of 50% across all services, including city, intercity and rural services. 

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts. The Authority has commenced work in relation to the implementation of the new fares structures for young adults, and this includes examining how to integrate private operators into the scheme. 

In light of the Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.