All public transport fares in Dublin to drop by 20%

It's part of the first national fare reduction package in 75 years.

All public transport fares in Dublin will be reduced by 20% from next week as part of a new initiative from the National Transport Authority. The reduction comes into effect from Monday, 9 May and will remain in place until the end of 2022. Fares on all subsidised services in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) are to be cut by an average of 20%, with reductions applying to Dublin Bus, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland and Iarnród Éireann's Commuter and DART services. Introduced in 2021, the TFI 90-minute fare will fall to €2 for adults and €0.65 for children. Iarnród Éireann reduced its online fares in April, but from Monday all intercity and commuter fares across Ireland will drop. Fares on Bus Éireann and Local Link services were also cut back by 20% last month. Customers will get their 20% reduction when they pay for their journey in the usual way, whether by Leap Card, cash or online payment. The plan was announced in February by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan, and was among the Government's overall Cost of Living plan. It marks the first such national fare reduction since 1947.

"Public transport plays such an important role in Dublin City," said Minister Ryan.

"On average over 140 million passengers are carried by Dublin bus every year and another 41 million by Luas, for example. Now, that we are all moving back to work or travelling around the city more after the pandemic, we want to make it even more attractive and easier for people to be able to choose public transport.  This saving of 20% transport costs is one practical way we can do this.

"But this cost reduction is also important at this particular time," Ryan continued.

"People are coming under more and more pressure as the price of essentials continues to increase. As one element of a suite of measures being introduced by the government, this fare reduction will go some way to easing some of the financial strain that households are experiencing.”

Ryan also noted that choosing public transport, even for one trip a week, can have wider benefits on society at large.

"Choosing public transport over the private car, even for one trip a week, can begin to help us reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. It will also help improve the air quality and cut down on congestion in our capital city.

"And at a time when fuel security is a greater concern than it has been in decades, leaving the car behind, if at all possible, is one of the best things we can all do to help reduce our energy use, and save money."

Featured Image of Eamon Ryan via Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie