Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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278. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will extend free fares for under nine year olds to private transport operators. [51563/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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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.

The Department of Transport secured €658.442 million in Budget 2025 for funding for Public Service Obligation (PSO) and TFI Local Link services (an increase from €613.813 million in 2024). As you will be aware, following Government decision, Budget 2025 also included an extension of free travel to children aged five to eight years to State-subvented PSO services, with the application portal formally opening on 3rd of September 2025.

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 the Deputy 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.