Half-Price Travel Fares for Under-24s Must Include Private Bus Contractors – Nash
18 February 2022
- Young people from Louth and East Meath who depend on private providers like Matthews Coaches must also see fare reductions on routes.
Half-priced transport fares for U24s, announced on Budget Day in response to Labour’s proposal for free fares for young people, must include commercial bus operators operating commuter routes Louth and East Meath TD Ged Nash said today.
He was speaking in response to a letter from the National Transport Authority (NTA) which said that the new Youth Travel Card allowing for half-price fares will be ready in mid-2022 for public bus, rail and LUAS routes but will not initially include private bus contractors.
The NTA said that while the card will provide discounts on public services once it is launched, adding commercial bus operators to the scheme “will take considerably longer”. The document also said that they were unable to provide a timeline for resolving this issue.
Speaking on this, the Labour TD said, “for many young people across the country, including here in Louth & East Meath, the privately run services are the most viable option.
”I had a legitimate expectation that this decision – which was announced on Budget Day last October by Minister Eamon Ryan – would have been actioned by now at least on the Bus Eireann and Irish Rail services. The delays are extremely disappointing.
“With the cost of living escalating by the day and with transport costs impacting in low and middle income families and low paid workers each day that passes without a discount to your bus or rail fare hits you in the pocket.
“With the cost of living rapidly rising, it is essential that the NTA ensure as little of a delay as possible in adding private buses to the Youth Travel Card when the discounted fares eventually come on stream.“
-Ends-
For more information, please contact:
Ged Nash TD: Gerald.Nash@oireachtas.ie; Contact Number: (041) 981 0811
Daragh Hamilton, Parliamentary Assistant to Ged Nash TD: daragh.hamilton@oireachtas.ie