Fares are set to be slashed by 20%.
Public transport fares around the country are to be cut in the coming weeks.
The first phase in the new measures to reduce fares will see Taxsaver tickets on public transport services lowered by an average of 20%.
Then, starting from May, public transport fares on services in Dublin – including Dublin Bus, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland, and DART – will be reduced 20%.
In mid-April, fares for services in the rest of the country, such as Bus Éireann, Go-Ahead Ireland commuter services, Local Link, Irish Rail web-fares, and certain Iarnród Éireann services, will be also be reduced by 20%.
The measures are being brought in as part of the government’s Cost of Living plan, which was announced in February by Minister Eamon Ryan.
He says the fare reductions will “put money back into people’s pockets”.
He said: “In February I was delighted to announce the introduction of a 20% average reduction on public transport fares from April. Today marks the first step in the roll-out of these fare reductions.
“In April and May, we will be going further by rolling out the average 20% fare reduction on all PSO services for the travelling public until the end of 2022, as well as introducing the Young Adult Card in May, which will reduce fares for young people under 24 by a further average 50%.
“These reduced fares will put money back into people’s pockets and will benefit hundreds of thousands of people across the country who use PSO public transport every day.
“They also have the added benefit of accelerating our shift to more efficient and affordable public transport and moving us away from a reliance on private transport.”
On Monday, while announcing a €200 credit on all Irish electricity bills, Minister Ryan said that the Government is “acutely aware” of the “recent increases in the cost of living and the impact of rising inflation right across the economy”.
Feature image via Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
