Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 November 2025
110. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider extending the provisions of the commuter ticket incentive in order to not disadvantage commuters who are just outside the band; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66410/25]
View answerI wish to reassure the Deputy that improving the accessibility, reliability, and affordability of public transport, while ensuring the system remains well-funded and responsive to passenger needs, is a core priority under the Programme for Government. The National Transport Authority (NTA), as fare regulator for services provided under PSO contracts, plays a central role in achieving this.
You will be aware that since last year there has been a significant change to the zonal structure used in the Greater Dublin Area for public transport. The old Short Hop Zone has been replaced by a new zonal structure comprising a Dublin City Zone and then three further zones. These zones have been developed based on distances from the city centre, reflecting the rationale generally underpinning the move toward a much fairer fares system which is based on distance.
The Dublin City Zone extends to approximately 23km from the city centre with Zones 2 - 4 representing a distance of up to 50km from the city centre. This change has brought a number of benefits to commuters compared to the previous zonal structure. For example, many passengers now enjoy significantly reduced fares for travelling to Dublin as compared to before, and the new structure means they can avail of the TFI 90-minute fare, allowing interchange to Dublin City Bus, Luas, and eligible rail services at no extra cost if the tag-on occurs within 90 minutes of the initial tag-on.
In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
