Written answer
Public Transport
The Minister said the NTA, not his department, controls January 2027 fare changes, balancing adult increases with affordability and service expansion.
174. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Transport if he will intervene to reverse planned fare hikes to public transport in the new year, that will have a negative impact on commuters. [66894/26]
Comment on this
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.
In this regard on 3 September 2026, the National Transport Authority (NTA) announced changes to the national fare structure for PSO services, effective from January 2027. These changes are the first major revision since 2018 forming part of the NTA’s National Fare Strategy and support the continued expansion and improvement of public transport, while maintaining affordability. They also represent an important step towards standardising fares nationwide, in line with the National Fare Strategy published in 2023.
While adult fares will increase, many child fares will be reduced and young adult fares will remain discounted at 50%, helping to improve affordability for families and young people. The Free Travel Scheme, which is run separately by the Department for Social Protection, will continue for everyone eligible.
Public transport requires ongoing investment to maintain, improve and expand services. Fare revenue helps fund these measures, making it important to balance affordability with inflationary increases. The proposed fare changes support the Government's commitment to continued network growth, service enhancements and climate objectives by funding future improvements, while keeping public transport competitive and affordable.
In line with this growth the NTA has identified approximately 140 new service initiatives and capacity enhancements as part of its 2027 budget submission to the Department of Transport, taking account of competing funding demands and wider public transport priorities. Subject to the outcome of the annual estimates process, this represents the biggest in year and year-on-year enhancement of services in many years.
Safeguarding the long-term financial sustainability while being responsive to passenger needs remains a central commitment under the Programme for Government. Achieving this requires a careful balance between delivering high-quality reliable services and ensuring the network is adequately resourced to meet growing demand.