CONTACTLESS DEBIT CARD payments are something we’re all used to by now, used for everything from lottery cards to our daily coffee.

With the government increasing the limit for such payments from €15 to €30 in last October’s budget, the scope for contactless sales here has increased greatly.

With that in mind, will the next barrier to fall towards a contactless society be our public transportation networks?

Currently the likes of Dublin Bus operate a Leap Card system which allows to commuters to add credit to their tickets as and when they need it.

Now Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes has called for contactless payments to be added to our transport networks roster.

“I have witnessed in London the enormous benefit of their new contactless payment method using a debit card,” Hayes said.

Brian Hayes Leah Farrell Leah Farrell

Many people would be familiar with the Oyster card system which operates in London that is very similar to our Leap Card. With the introduction of this system the requirement for the Leap Card would become redundant.

The Oyster Card system came into play in London in 2003, while our own Leap Card kicked off in 2011.

Hayes claims that a move towards contactless payments would make public transport far more attractive to those without a Leap Card, with the added bonus that it would provide a major benefit to tourists.

The main benefit to such a system would be that there would be no need for commuters to top their card.

“The Leap Card has been a great success,” he said.

In order to make public transport more attractive and convenient we need to change with the times. The Oyster Card was introduced in 2003 and the Leap Card in 2011. Let’s not wait another 8 years to introduce contactless payments.

TheJournal.ie has requested comment from the National Transport Authority with regard to the issue of contactless payment on Irish public transport.

What do you think? Would contactless payments on Irish transport make the whole system more attractive to the public? Or is the current system of Leap Cards sufficient?

Would you like to see contactless payments introduced on public transport in Ireland?

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