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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Skerries and Balbriggan fare increases

Summary

Deputy O’Reilly objects to commuters being removed from the Dublin fare zone and facing further 15% increases. The Taoiseach cites fare supports and the need for sustainable funding of expanded services.

I gave a commitment to my constituents that I would raise this issue at the first opportunity I got when the Dáil resumed, and that is today. Last year, constituents of mine who live in Skerries and get the train from Skerries and Balbriggan were taken out of the Dublin commuter zone. That added hundreds of euro to the average daily commute. Now, we learn that the Government is proposing to hike the fares even further, by 15%. For some people that will cost an extra €150 to €250 a year, and that is just for the joy and pleasure of squashing onto overcrowded trains and waiting for overcrowded buses. The transport system for north County Dublin needs investment but that should not require additional money from hard-pressed commuters who are paying through the nose as it is. Will the Taoiseach intervene and ask the Minister for Transport to halt these hikes and look at real investment in the transport system for commuters in north County Dublin?

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As I said earlier, we have an effective eight-year fare freeze alongside targeted measures in terms of public transport. We have the-----

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No, prices went up. That is not true.

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Verona Murphy An Ceann Comhairle Independent

The Deputy cannot interrupt.

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-----young adult card, free travel for under-nines and a 90-minute fare. For most of the year, I have been taking questions from Deputies, all of whom want additional services, be that additional bus or train services, better facilities and so on. We have to have a sustainable basis for funding extensive enhancement and expansion of public transport into the future. That is the balance that has to be struck in this case.

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