Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

395. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to urgently address the situation for commercial bus operators (details supplied) and allow for the expansion of free fares on State-run bus services for children under the age of nine years from September 2025 to be extended to commercial operators (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46865/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As you will be aware, in Budget 2025 the Government approved the extension of free travel to children aged five to eight years to State-subvented PSO services, the new Child (5–8) TFI Leap Card was launched on 3rd September with the application portal formally opening, extending free travel on all PSO services to children under 9 years of age.

This welcomed initiative was announced as part of the Budget 2025 package of measures and delivers on a key Programme for Government commitment to make public transport more affordable and accessible for families. The extension of free travel for children under 9 builds on the 2017 introduction of free travel for children under five on subsidised public transport services.

As is the case with all such Budgetary measures, decisions relating to same are a matter for Government which operates within the available fiscal parameters and the medium-term fiscal plan.

I wish to assure you that both Government and the Department remain committed to improving the accessibility, reliability, and affordability of public transport, while safeguarding the financial sustainability of the system in the long term.