Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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131. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated full-year cost of extending the youth travel card and associated 50% discount in public transport fares to all young persons aged 24 and 25 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35522/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. 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. 

In view of the importance of incentivising young people to use public transport, as part of Budget 2022 I secured €25m of funding to provide for the introduction of a young adult card (YAC). The Young Adult Card was launched on PSO services on the 9th of May, with over 1000 applications received by the NTA on launch day alone. We are currently working on broadening the initiative to include commercial bus services, with the aim to have that in place before the return of third level colleges. This will mean that nationwide, those aged between 19 and 23 will be able to avail of an average 50% discount in their public transport fares.  

The initiative is aimed at supporting our young people to establish strong sustainable mobility habits; setting public transport fares at appropriate levels is key to achieving this objective. I am pleased to say, since April when a further 20% reduction in PSO fares was introduced, all passengers under the age of 24 in possession of a LEAP card now travel on PSO services at significantly reduced rates. The fare reduction will be in place until the end of the year and €54m in Exchequer funding has been secured to allow for the introduction of these discounted fares, this is in addition to the REV22 allocations. As such, I would like to see the 20% fare reduction continue into 2023; however, I am acutely aware of the competing pressures across the system and the finite Exchequer resources. The funding implications of all measures must be considered in the round so I will work closely with Minister McGrath and other Government colleagues in the context of the 2023 Estimates process to see what we can do with regard to supporting public transport services. 

In addition, as well as the TFI 90 Minute Fares scheme which means that adults now pay €2, young adults pay €1, and children pay just 65 cent to travel for up to 90 minutes on Dublin Bus, Luas and most DART, commuter rail and Go-Ahead Ireland services in Dublin. In May alone, the number of people who had a Child Leap Card, Student Leap Card, or the new Young Adult Leap Card increased by over 16,000, which is very encouraging.

While fare reductions are to be welcomed, investment in additional services is also critical. For this reason, I am committed to progressing core projects like BusConnects, Connecting Ireland and DART+ as well as improving existing services across the country.

The PSO programme represents a significant expenditure of taxpayers' money, and funding has increased in recent years to cater for additional services and growing capacity.  Any assessment of a proposed change to public transport fare structures would be a matter for the NTA to consider in the first instance.  Therefore, in light of the Authority's responsibility in this area I have forwarded the Deputy’s specific question in relation to the estimated full-year cost of extending the youth travel card and associated 50% discount in public transport fares to all young persons aged 24 and 25 years, to the NTA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.