Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 November 2025
75. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider extending the short hop zone to Newbridge and surrounding areas to aid with the cost-of-living of commuters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62392/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI 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 The old Short Hop Zone has been replaced by a new zonal structure comprising a Dublin City Zone and then three further zones.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 Zone 3 representing a distance of around 50km from the city centre. With this change Newbridge was categorised as Zone 3 which brought a number of benefits to commuters as compared to the previous zonal structure. For example Newbridge commuters now enjoy significantly reduced fares for travelling to Dublin as compared to before with an adult Leap fare from Newbridge to Dublin City Centre reduced by approximately 45%. In addition, Newbridge’s inclusion in Zone 3 means passengers 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.
I think the Deputy would acknowledge the significant benefits that Newbridge passengers are now enjoying thanks to these changes that have been introduced and also acknowledge the importance of ensuring any fares system is based on transparency and fairness across the board. There are no current plans to make any further changes to the zonal system as introduced just last year.
