Deputy Steven Matthews, Green Party TD for Wicklow, has said that new half-price fares for young people will make public transport cheaper and more accessible for students who are starting and returning to college. The permanent 50% reduction in fares for students was a key Green Party win in recent months and follows a commitment in the last budget to reduce the cost of public transport for young people. Combined with the overall 20% reduction in fares announced earlier this year, bus and rail tickets are now 60% cheaper for those under 24 compared to last year.
Welcoming the announcement, Deputy Matthews said:
“I am delighted that public transport fares have been halved for students in Wicklow returning to college this September. This was a policy decision secured by the Green Party during last year’s budget negotiations and it is extremely rewarding to see it successfully implemented.
“The 50% reduction in fares is designed to make public transport more affordable for students and young people who have faced significant financial challenges over the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. The TFI 90-minute fare for journeys made on Dublin Bus, Luas, DART, and commuter rail has been reduced to €1 while short fares are now just €0.65.
“Making public transport more accessible is also fundamental to achieving our objectives under the Climate Action Plan. If we can encourage more people to use public transport, we will be able to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and create safer and more liveable towns and villages.
“As well as reducing the cost of public transport, I am working to improve bus and rail services across all of County Wicklow and to extend the DART service to Wicklow Town. A series of new routes have been announced recently, including an hourly 131 bus service between Wicklow Town and Bray and a much faster 133 route from Wicklow to Dublin City Centre.
“The Green Party is the party for public transport for all. There is a huge opportunity to make it easier and more affordable for people to use sustainable modes of transport. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleague Minister Eamon Ryan to increase the provision of public transport and to improve access to walking and cycling routes across all of Wicklow”, Deputy Matthews concluded.
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