Public Transport and Fare Increases: Motion [Private Members]
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-29
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Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin (SF), Wicklow-Wexford

Increasing rail fares on the antiquated Rosslare, Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin rail line would be an absolute joke. It would be a bad choice and would make no sense. Despite great expansions at Rosslare Europort, the gateway to Europe which connects Rosslare to Dublin, our capital city, it is an absolute farce and has regressed hugely. It takes longer to get to Dublin by train than it took 40 years ago, when I started using the service. There are fewer carriages, carriages are cramped, toilets in stations are often not open, there has been no catering service for years and, as I said, the journey goes at a snail's pace due to the failure of successive Governments to invest in rail infrastructure. Yet, the Minister wants to charge people more for the privilege of using the service.
When Deputy Mythen and I met with the manager of Iarnród Éireann in Buswells Hotel, we pointed out that, unfortunately, many of those who use the Rosslare, Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin rail line are forced to stand the entire journey to Dublin, often in between carriages. This is absolutely shocking in 2026. Why would we ask passengers who board in Gorey, Arklow, Rathdrum and Wicklow and are squashed like sardines before they do a hard day's work in Dublin to pay 15% more for the privilege? That is a bloody joke. There are only two services that are capable of getting commuters from my constituency to Dublin to get to work before 9 a.m. This is pushing many of them back onto the road as commuters on a gridlocked M11.
Despite all the bluster about reducing carbon footprints and all of that, the Government has refused to prioritise public transport and invest in the rail service. It could make that happen. It could take cars off the road and improve people's quality of life, instead of people being stressed in the morning trying to get to Dublin because they have no alternative but to use public transport. How on earth can the Government expect them to pay 15% more for an antiquated service that runs from Rosslare to Dublin? I call on the Government to rethink and reverse this crazy decision.

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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