Labour’s transport spokesperson Ciarán Ahern has urged government parties to “rethink” the 15% increase in public transport fares due to be introduced in January 2027.
The Dublin South-West TD said that the government must “capitalise on the gains made”, which have seen the number of cars accessing Dublin City centre at morning rush hour falling to its lowest on record.
Ahern said “commuters need protection from Budget 2027. It’s nonsensical for this government to make taking public transport more expensive at the height of a cost of living crisis and as the price of fuel soars for commuters.
The Labour climate spokesperson jibed, “it was incredibly frustrating to hear the crocodile tears from government supporting TDs and Senators during the meeting of the Oireachtas Transport Committee last week.”
“Budget 2027 should protect commuters from these fare increases and fund the expansion of the network to make pubic transport more affordable, more accessible and more reliable. The NTA has told us that increasing fares will reduce the number of people using public transport – this is terrible policy,” he said.
“While the NTA says there is a funding problem, we know that government can make the political choice to close that funding gap,” Ahern asserted.
Ahern noted “the gvernment were able to find almost €1.2 billion to cut excise duty on petrol and diesel for people who drive to work just days before this decision to hike public transport fares was announced. Commuters using public transport have every right to ask why they don’t deserve similar supports.”
“Budget 2027 cannot ask commuters to carry more of the cost. Instead, it should see proper funding for reliable public transport as essential infrastructure. Keeping public transport fares affordable is central to this. If government backbenchers want to offer more than crocodile tears to commuters they should vote against the budget.”