NTA invited to appear before cttee over fare increases

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has been invited to testify before the Oireachtas Transport Committee regarding recent fare increases for public transport. Effective January 2027, adult fares will rise by an average of 15%, sparking concerns about the decision's implications.

The Transport Committee's Chairperson has extended an invitation to the NTA to appear before the Committee on September 16th. Fine Gael TD Michael Murphy stressed the importance of scrutinizing fare decisions that impact hundreds of thousands of passengers, questioning whether the increase sends the right message. He emphasized that passengers should not be presented with fare hikes as an inevitable fact.

The NTA has defended the fare hikes, stating they will enable the expansion of new and existing services across the network. The new routes will be announced soon, bringing more choices and improved reliability and frequency to existing services. Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien highlighted that there will be about 140 additional services next year, totaling 365 million journeys taken on public transport last year, a record high.

Murphy acknowledged the cost-of-living dimension, noting that even small fare increases can accumulate over time. He pointed out that the NTA has protected fares for young adults, students, and a quarter of the population, with free travel available across public transport. O'Brien explained that the fare hike allows for a significant expansion of services, while some regions without fare increases may face alternative funding sources.