Half-Price Fares For The Young Folk

The Shay Express

atest press release from Eamon Ryan TD, issued on Sunday, May 8th 2022…

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and the National Transport Authority (NTA) have today launched the 50% public transport fare reduction for young people.

The half-price fares take effect tomorrow, Monday 9th May.

The new low fares apply to all subsidised public transport journeys on Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland and Local Link.

All adults aged 19 to 23 are eligible for the half-price fares. Eligibility continues up to the day before their 24th birthday.

When the additional 20% fare reduction on all public transport announced as part of the government’s cost of living supports last February is applied, this means that public transport costs for young adults will actually be 60% cheaper until the end of this year.

For holders of a current Student Leap Card, no action is required. They simply pay for their journey by Leap, and the reduced fare is deducted from their card in the normal way.

However, non-student young adults looking to avail of the lower fares will need to apply for a Young Adult Leap Card for use when travelling.

The facility to apply for the Card is done online and opens on Monday May 9th. The cards are all produced in Ireland, and fulfilment will be completed promptly, with cards being delivered by post to the customers. Once the customer has received the Young Adult Card, they can use it on all relevant public transport services.

Customers aged under 19, already benefit from the Child 16-18 Leap Card, which is valid up to day before their 19th birthday.

Today’s fare changes for students and young adults will be accompanied by a social and digital marketing campaign.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said: “When I announced a permanent 50% fare reduction for young adults in Budget 2022, I really wanted to make public transport more attractive for young people, so that using public transport could become a habit of a lifetime.

“I also wanted to go some way to supporting young people, by making day-to-day life a little bit more affordable.

“This fare cut is unprecedented and quite radical. But I believe strongly that it’s the way we need to go if we are serious about putting low-carbon transport at the heart of our efforts to build a sustainable future and if we want to bring people, and particularly young people, with us on that journey.”

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman said:

“The 50% across-the-board cut in the cost of transport fares for young people will have a real and positive impact for so many. I’m thrilled to see this going into effect, especially as this is an idea which came from young people for young people. I want to thank the members of Comhairle na nÓg for their campaign to reduce transport fares and I’m delighted to join Eamon in delivering on this for them and all young people.”

Anne Graham, CEO of NTA said: “With the TFI 90-minute fare coming down to €1 in Dublin, and the standard single fare for young adults and students coming down to €0.65 in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford, we look forward to seeing more young adults using public transport to get to work or college or just when getting out and about with their friends and family.

“Value for money is not the only factor that gets people on to public transport, but it is an important one, and we do know that cutting fares to such an extent, will make public transport more attractive to more young adults.

“I’d like to thank my NTA colleagues and all the operators for the work they have put in to make this a reality. This is particularly the case for the Young Adult Card scheme that has essentially been designed from scratch and fully implemented within a matter of a few months.

“We’re appreciative of the support that the Government has given us, that has enabled us to make public transport even more affordable.”