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STUDENTS WHO USE private bus companies to travel to college could see their fares cut in half, with the Government planning on cutting the cost before third-level institutions return.
Earlier this year, young people aged between 19 and 23 saw a 50% fare cut on Public Service Obligation (PSO) transport services like Bus Éireann, DART or Luas with the introduction of the Young Adult Card (YAC).
However, currently the card doesn’t grant fare reductions on commercial public transport options, which many students use to commute to college on a daily basis.
In a response to a Parliamentary Question from Sinn Féin’s Ruairi Ó Murchú, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said that commercial bus operators were an “integral” part of the Irish public transport system, particularly parts of the country that aren’t covered by existing routes.
Ryan said that his Department intends to introduce savings on private operators before colleges reopen in September.
“The YAC was initially launched on PSO services on the 9th of May, and will be broadened to include commercial operators later this year, with the aim to have it in place before the recommencement of third level colleges,” Ryan said.
“This will not only promote modal shift in the transport sector among this age group but should also contribute towards a reduced reliance on private transport with associated benefit of transport emission savings.”
He said that it was technically challenging to introduce the YAC on commercial bus fleets, due to many not using Leap-enabled software.
“An array of various ticketing equipment is in use on fleet used by the commercial operators and needs to be catered for,” Ryan added.
A spokesperson for the National Transport Authority (NTA) said: “We are working with the commercial operators with the intention that the 50% fare can be offered by those operators who choose to do so at the beginning of September.”
In response, the USI Vice President for Campaigns Ross Boyd said that it was a positive development for students and young people.
“It’ll definitely have a big impact for students,” Boyd said, adding that it would be particularly useful for rural students who only have access to public transport through commercial operators.
While he welcomed the plan, he called on the Green Party to act on it’s 2020 election manifesto and implement free public transport for students, alongside widening the eligibility of the YAC to people aged 24.
Boyd also called for additional 24 hour buses, just a day after the Department of Transport confirmed to The Journal that there would be more late night buses on the way this autumn.
It comes just days after the National Transport Authority (NTA) ruled out running late-night Luas services, saying that between 1am and 5am is when maintenance is carried out.
The NTA said that essential maintenance on overhead cable systems, rail works and cleaning “can only be carried out when all trams are out of service”.
Ongoing conversation about late night public transport has stemmed amid a shortage of taxis, with only 29% of registered drivers operating during the busy periods on Friday and Saturday nights.
Readers previously told The Journal of their difficulties getting home from nights out in Dublin city centre, with some saying that they were forced to wait hours for a taxi while others opted to walk home.
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In Germany, you can currently buy a monthly travel pass for nine euro. That gets you on any public transport available. Nine euro.
@Adrian O’Donnell: you can travel anywhere in Germany on it too, I bought one last month, it was brilliant for the trains!
So the election buying charade begins. Gouging the nation with excessive fuel/energy duties and taxes to give portions back, specifically targeted at sections of society least likely to vote for government parties. So blatantly cynical.
@M Bowe: cynical like your comment ?
@M Bowe: you moan when they do something beneficial, and you moan when they don’t.
@Ciaran: realistic is the word.
@M Bowe: https://www.cttc.ie/decision-to-exclude-commercial-bus-companies-from-20-fare-reduction-scheme-risks-the-future-of-the-irelands-transport-network-cttc/
If it ain’t cynical why did they “ actively exclude” them just 3 months ago. The leap card system was already in place so technologically it was and is viable from day 1.
@M Bowe: It’s rather funny that you are accusing others of being cynical!
@sean o’dhubhghaill: watch FFG implement a lot of policies proposed by opposition over past years, albeit in watered down basis. Suddenly it no longer “ leprechaun economics”but viable policy. At a time of massive surplus in revenue and people are forced to worry about heat or eat, rents still climbing at well over inflation rates etc, it is being hoarded for an election buying war chest.
@M Bowe: you’re in favour of the government spending taxpayers money to supplement private companies? How odd…
Seems they want students to live at home and commute?
@ChronicAnxiety: the vast majority of students who come from economically struggling households are forced to stay at home as their parents cannot afford to subsidize them for rent. So this measure will be very helpful for them.
@Dennis Laffey: it would be better to provide students with accomodation on site , than have them commuting hours every day.
They should at least ensure that the current promise of the semi state 50% reduction is implemented before September…in some regions the 50% reductions not implemented on seasonal tickets
have your say