Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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202. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a report (details supplied); the steps he intends to take on foot of that report; the consideration given to introducing affordable ‘climate tickets’ for public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21755/23]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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203. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions he has had with Dublin Bus to establish the reasons for its discontinuance of change receipts; the way in which passengers can recoup overpayment of fares in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21756/23]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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204. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware that, in Dublin, monthly public transport for all means of public transport tickets are only available to employees; the reason such monthly public transport tickets are not universally available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21757/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 to 204, inclusive, together.

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, nor decision making on fares. It is the National Transport Authority (NTA) that has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services, provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.

Any suggestion that fares in Dublin are the “worst in Europe” does not reflect the reality of the overall fares offering in our capital, where public transport fares are better value than ever before.

The recently published Greenpeace report focuses purely on monthly and annual fares, which represent a very low percentage of journeys, so it is not a fair reflection of the fares options available to customers.

In 2022 for example, there were 126m passenger journeys on buses in Dublin. Of those,

• 73% - TFI Leap 90-minute fare

• 15% - Free travel pass (EG for pensioners)

• 9.5% - cash

• 3% - monthly or annual passes

For people who do multi-mode journeys, thanks to Leap card caps, they will never pay more than €8 per day and €32 per week for public transport.

The TFI 90 minute fare, (which is €2 for adults, €1 for students and under-23s, and 65c for children 18 and under) was introduced in 2021 for all modes in Dublin. This fare allows passengers free transfer across the public transport network between Dublin Bus, Luas and DART, commuter rail and Go-Ahead Ireland services in Dublin within 90 minutes of initial touch on.

Further reductions were introduced in 2022 with the roll-out of the 20% average fare reduction across PSO public transport services, and the Young Adult Card on PSO and participating commercial bus services.

Thanks to these reductions, fares are now better value than ever, and passenger numbers in Ireland have recovered at a much faster pace than in many other jurisdictions.

Passenger numbers in Dublin are now actually ahead of where they were pre-covid, by approximately 10%, which is just about unique for a European capital.

In light of the Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions in relation to the possible introduction of a monthly or annual travel pass, and Dublin bus change receipts to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.