Coalition urged to immediately reverse planned bus and rail fare hikesMicheál Martin has defended the increases, saying 27% of the population will retain free transport Thu, 03 Sep, 2026 – 15:49ELAINE LOUGHLIN and TADGH MCNALLY
The Taoiseach has defended plans to hike bus and rail fares by an average of 15%, saying the Government is “not in a position to fund everything forever”.
The Coalition has been called on to immediately reverse the planned fare increases, which have been dubbed “anti-climate and anti-worker”.
Opposition parties have strongly criticised the move by the National Transport Authority (NTA).
The increases will apply across all public service obligation (PSO) services, including Bus Éireann, Irish Rail, Dublin Bus, Luas, Go Ahead Ireland, and TIF Local Link.
However, Micheál Martin said there is a requirement for a “sustainable funding model” for public transport, citing “pressure points” over the demand for new services across the country.
“We do need a sustainable funding programme in respect of being in a position to continue to expand services and public transport into the future,” Mr Martin said.
The changes will apply across cash fares, Leap cards, and weekly and monthly tickets and are due to come into effect in January, the NTA confirmed.
It also said it would be reviewing fares annually to ensure they remain “aligned with operating costs, investment requirements and affordability objectives”.
The Taoiseach said there had been almost €1bn provided in support of public transport in recent years, and to continue the expansion of the network there needed to be “significantly more funding”.
He described the increase in fares as being a “contributory” element of this funding push.
Mr Martin defended the rise, saying that 27% of the population would retain free transport, including children up to the age of nine as well as those over 66.
Asked if continued expansion of the public transport network would require continuous price increases for the public, Mr Martin said: “Historically, nothing ever stands still.”
“We will always endeavour to make things affordable. We understand that,” Mr Martin said.
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Pressed if it is appropriate to increase fares at a time when people are struggling with the cost of living, Mr Martin said: “Government’s not in a position to fund everything forever.
“There has to be sustainable funding models across the board. We have to be clear about that.”
But hitting out at the move, Green Party Leader Roderic O’Gorman said it is clear that bus and rail passengers are at “the bottom of the list” in the Government’s priorities.
“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.”
In the previous coalition, of which the Green Party was a member, a 20% PSO fare reduction was rolled out.
Last year, 363.5m journeys were taken on public transport services, up from 343.6m in 2024 and 290m in 2019.
Labour transport spokesperson Ciaran Ahern also condemned plans to raise public transport fares and called on the Government to stop the increases that are way above the rate of inflation in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.
Mr Ahern said raising fares for public transport at a time that the Government is spending €400m to keep diesel under €2 “beggars belief” and highlights just how anti-climate and anti-worker this Government is.
He said: “Last week, the Government spent a further €400m on excise cuts for drivers — yet it won’t act to stop fare increases for commuters.
“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are doubling down on fossil fuels when they should be encouraging people to use public transport.”
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#Public Transport#Cost of living#Government spending