Public Transport and Fare Increases: Motion [Private Members]
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-29
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Aidan Farrelly (SD), Kildare North

I am not criticising the Minister. I am just letting him know that when the question was asked last week, no answer was forthcoming because, it was said, this was a budgetary decision. We have, however, an overspend of €68 million.
What are we doing? We are putting €70 million worth of additional fares on the taxpayer. It is simply not good enough. As it stands, while the Minister's opening remarks are very aspirational, and I reiterate that if he delivers on those, I promise him I will be the first to stand here and say very well done, I do not believe we can get there. I will tell the Minister why. We are doing the wrong things when it comes to climate. We are doing the wrong things when it comes to the affordability crisis. When we have such momentum behind the move - the modal shift from cars to multi-occupancy vehicles - we are struggling. We are failing and the optics of this will be a really regressive step. The Minister could do away with these hikes. I think he knows in his heart of hearts that he could. There are certainly ways around that €70 million within his budget. What he is justifying is inexcusable. I really ask him to reconsider that, certainly for the core demographics of people who are using public transport. He should work that into the budget. This does not have to happen in January. I ask him in that time to reconsider.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-29/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:00:59+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-29