Adult fares for public transport will increase by an average of 15% from January 2027 under new fare structures announced by the National Transport Authority (NTA).

It will see a 90-minute Leap Card journey increase from €2 to €2.30.

The NTA said the revised fare structure is the first broad adjustment since 2018 and that even after these changes, fares will remain approximately 8% lower than they were eight years ago.

“While adult fares will increase by an average of 15%, this remains below cumulative inflation, which has increased by 20.8% since 2022,” the NTA said.

The revised fares will apply across all Public Service Obligation (PSO) services operated under the Transport for Ireland (TFI) network, including Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Irish Rail, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland and TFI Local Link services.

The changes apply to cash fares, Leap Card fares, and time-based products, such as weekly and monthly passes.

Many child fares, particularly in regional cities and towns, will be reduced.

Free travel for all children up to their 9th birthday, and free travel for all people aged 66 and over, will be maintained.

“Fare revenue currently covers approximately 38% of operating costs, which is at the lower end of the European average,” the NTA said.

“Nearly all of the remaining costs are covered by the State. In 2026 alone, Government provided a record €940 million in PSO funding towards the cost of operating services across the Transport for Ireland network,” it added.

The authority said that the revised fare structure is intended to maintain an appropriate balance between passenger fares and State investment while ensuring continued investment in public transport services, capacity, connectivity and reliability.

“This is the first general increase in PSO fares in eight years and is an important step in supporting continued investment in expanded services, increased capacity and enhanced connectivity across the country,” said Chief Executive Officer of the National Transport Authority Anne Shaw.

“At the same time, almost 1.5 million people will continue to benefit from free travel or fare concessions, including children under nine, people aged 66 and over, and those eligible under the Free Travel Scheme, while the 50% Young Adult and Student Discount is being maintained.”

“These changes strike a careful balance between keeping public transport affordable and ensuring we can continue building a larger, more accessible and better-connected network for communities across Ireland,” Ms Shaw said.

From 2027 onwards, the NTA said it will review fares annually to ensure they remain aligned with operating costs, investment requirements, and affordability objectives.

“Even with these changes, Ireland’s public transport fares remain extremely competitive by European standards, with single-trip fares in Dublin comparing favourably with those in cities including Berlin, Brussels, London and Vienna,” according to the NTA.

Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien said the fare structure is “a crucial step to expand capacity across our public transport service”.

In a statement, he said: ‘While adult fares will increase, many child fares will be reduced and young adult fares will remain discounted at 50%, helping to improve affordability for families and young people.

“Free travel will continue for everyone eligible, including the under-9s and the over-65s – this means 1.5 million people, or almost 27% of our population, enjoy free travel on the basis of their age.”

“Public transport fares in Ireland will still remain competitive by international standards.

Importantly, this change is necessary to support continued investment in public transport, enabling the expansion of services and the delivery of key infrastructure projects that will improve transport frequency and connectivity.

We remain fully committed to delivering a public transport system that is reliable, accessible, affordable, and capable of meeting the growing needs of communities across the country,” he added.

Fare increases ‘slap in the face’ for public transport users – Opposition

Sinn Féin’s junior spokesperson on Transport Louis O’Hara described the fare increases as “a slap in the face to people who rely on public transport”.

“It is bad enough that thousands of commuters are forced to travel on overcrowded and unreliable services on a daily basis. The NTA and Government are now telling them they will have to pay more for these services, adding insult to injury.

“Fare increases are not acceptable particularly during a cost of living crisis and when Government is supposed to be incentivising public transport as a real alternative to car transport,” he said.

Mr O’Hara added that “the Government clearly has its priorities all wrong”.

Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly has said that at a time when the Government should be doing all it can to incentivise public transport use, the increases will do the exact opposite.

Mr Farrelly, who is the party’s transport spokesperson, said: “The NTA’s decision to hike fares by an average of 15% is a retrograde step that will further discourage commuters from using public transport.

“It will see Transport for Ireland’s 90-minute fare for Dublin commuter services rise from €2 to €2.30, with similar price increases across the country’s bus and rail network.

“With people struggling with an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis that shows no sign of easing, this is a very shortsighted move by the NTA and a slap in the face for passengers.”

Labour’s spokesperson on transport Ciaran Ahern has called on the Government to stop the increases which he said are way above the rate of inflation in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.

“Last week Government spent a further €400 million on excise cuts for drivers – yet it won’t act to stop fare increases on commuters.

“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are doubling down on fossil fuels when they should be encouraging people to use public transport.

“It’s anti-worker and it proves this Government’s failure to take any leadership on climate.”

Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman said that to increase public transport fares by 15% in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis is a slap in the face to everyone who uses the bus, train, Luas or DART.

“These commuters see the hundreds of millions that the Government has spent over the summer protecting some sectors from inflation costs, yet they are expected to pay out more, every day, every journey.

“This decision shows this Government’s priorities – and bus and rail passengers are at the bottom of the list.”