For the umpteenth time, I raise the Government's refusal to extend the short-hop zone from Dublin to Drogheda and Laytown. I have met with the National Transport Authority, NTA, numerous times and it has acknowledged that its policies are directed by the Government. We know the Government can reduce fares with the stroke of a pen because it was done several weeks ago. There is a very strong and urgent case for reducing these fares in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. There is also an obvious environmental case for it. There is nothing stopping the Government from doing this thus far, only the lack of political will. Will the Government consider doing this? There is nothing to stop it. We are in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and the Government can do something to give people relief. When will it extend the short-hop zone to Drogheda and Laytown?

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I understand the strong case that is being made to extend the short-hop zone. My colleague Councillor Sharon Tolan has been leading the charge on this. Her argument is that if Kilcoole in County Wicklow, which is 55 km south of the centre of Dublin, is in the short-hop zone, Laytown, Bettystown and Drogheda should also be included in that zone. That is a strong case. We need to assess the cost and see if other areas fall into the same category. For example, some towns in Kildare would be as near to Dublin as Drogheda but also do not fall within the short-hop zone. We would have to look at it in the round, or in the arc if that makes any sense, and we are doing that at the moment.