Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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14. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plan for fare reductions on public transport in Budget 2023; if he has met with public transport service operators with regard to fare reductions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46105/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware the National Transport Authority has the statutory responsibility for the regulation of public transport fares.

Equally the Deputy will be aware of the significant fare initiatives that have recently been introduced by the NTA, supported by funding made available by this Government.

In 2022 Government supported the introduction of a 20% average fare reduction across all PSO services which was introduced earlier this year. This has been a great help to people across the country in terms of making public transport more affordable, particularly in the context of the cost-of-living issues we all now face.

Separately, Government has also funded the introduction by the NTA of the Young Adult Card to allow 19-23 year olds avail of a further 50% discount on all PSO services across bus and rail which was initially rolled out on all PSO services in May, and which has now been extended to cover participating commercial bus services since earlier this month.

These initiatives build on changes already introduced such as the TFI90 fare in Dublin and the extension of the Leap Card in Cork and overall are helping to make public transport a more attractive and affordable choice for people across the country.

These fare initiatives complement the increases in public transport services Government is supporting through the roll out this year of BusConnects Dublin, improved rural transport services through Connecting Ireland, expanded rail services which are currently the subject of consultation and continued planning and development of service improvements generally. In addition significant amounts of capital expenditure are being allocated to improve public transport infrastructure also.

Government has supported significant fare initiatives across the system and I am keen to ensure these initiatives continue into 2023. Ultimately all of these issues will form part of the ongoing of the ongoing Budget 2023 discussions.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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16. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the date on which the North County Dublin Irish Rail services will receive new carriages for train services in the Greater Dublin Area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46103/22]

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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18. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if new and extra train carriages will be provided for the Dublin to Waterford line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45996/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 18 together.

As the Deputies may be aware, there are two major relevant rail capacity enhancement projects under way.

Firstly, last December the Government issued approval in principle for the DART+ Programme. The DART+ Programme will double the rail capacity in the Greater Dublin Area and will be the cornerstone of rail investment in the Area for the coming years.

Government approval last December permitted Iarnród Éireann to enter into a ten-year procurement framework for new DART fleet and immediately purchase 95 new units. DART+ Fleet is of particular importance to upgrading the northern line from Connolly Station as it will enable improved services beyond Malahide, through north county Dublin and as far as Drogheda, in advance of any potential later electrification. This will be achieved through the use of battery-electric units on the northern line, delivering improved frequencies, better journey times and expanded services for passengers. This new DART fleet should enter service in 2025.

Secondly, there is the purchase of 41 additional intercity railcars, delivery of which has recently commenced. These new railcars will allow for enhanced services across the rail network when introduced into service in 2023.

I have been advised by the National Transport Authority that it is working with Iarnród Éireann to review where best to deploy the 41 new passenger railcars, which will increase capacity in many areas across the network. These new carriages give us the flexibility to respond to changing passenger demand following the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of this ongoing work by the NTA and Iarnród Éireann on a network-wide basis, in respect of the Dublin to Waterford line, consideration will be given providing new and additional carriages where demand, available carriages and suitable infrastructure support such provision.

Deputies may also be interested in the draft Iarnród Éireann train timetable recently published for public consultation. This includes a range of proposed rail service improvements to apply from this December. This includes a proposed new morning return train service, Monday to Friday, on the Waterford line, operating between Carlow and Dublin.