NTA launches 50 per cent public transport fare reduction for young adults

Credit: National Transport Authority

The National Transport Authority (NTA) and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan have launched the 50 per cent public transport fare reduction for young people as of 9 May 2022.

The new low fares apply to all subsidised public transport journeys on Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland and TFI Local Link. All adults aged 19 to 23 are eligible for the half-price fares, which will continue up to the day before their 24th birthday.

When the additional 20 per cent fare reduction announced as part of the government’s cost of living support on all public transport services is applied, public transport costs for young adults will actually be 60 per cent cheaper until the end of 2022.

Customers who already have an existing Student Leap Card need to simply pay for their journey by Leap, and the reduced fare is deducted from their card in the normal way. However, non-student young adults looking to avail of the lower fares will need to apply for a Young Adult Leap Card for use when travelling. Once the customer has applied for and received the Young Adult Card, they can use it on all relevant public transport services.

In addition, customers aged under 19 already benefit from the Child 16-18 Leap Card, which is valid up to the day before their 19th birthday.

NTA announces 20 per cent fare reduction for public transport in Dublin

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said: “This fare cut is unprecedented and quite radical. But I believe strongly that it’s the way we need to go if we are serious about putting low-carbon transport at the heart of our efforts to build a sustainable future and if we want to bring people, and particularly young people, with us on that journey.”

“With the TFI 90-minute fare coming down to €1 in Dublin, and the standard single fare for young adults and students coming down to €0.65 in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford, we look forward to seeing more young adults using public transport to get to work or college or just when getting out and about with their friends and family,” said Anne Graham, CEO of NTA. “Value for money is not the only factor that gets people on to public transport, but it is an important one, and we do know that cutting fares to such an extent, will make public transport more attractive to more young adults.”

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman said: “The 50 per cent across-the-board cut in the cost of transport fares for young people will have a real and positive impact for so many. I’m thrilled to see this going into effect, especially as this is an idea which came from young people for young people.”