Bus and rail fare increases in Kildare slammed by TDs

THERE has been an increase in public transport fares for areas in Kildare, Cavan, Wicklow and Meath which is set to discourage people from using the services, according to local representatives.

Yesterday, Thursday, the National Transport Authority announced increases in fares this year for some public transport routes. 

Fares on the Kilcock-Dublin bus service will increase by 20% from €3.08 to €3.70 and fares on the Drogheda-Dublin Airport bus service will increase by 16% from €4.55 to €5.30. 

While the Cavan-Dublin bus service will see its fare increase by 21% from €9.45 to €11.40, while the Ratoath-Ashbourne bus service will see its fares increase by 30% from €1.54 to €2. 

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has defended the new fare structure for public transport, telling The Journal that it is not a revenue raising exercise. 

The fare increases have been slammed by some TDs such as Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Niamh Smyth and Social Democrats TD for Wicklow Jennifer Whitmore.

TD Niamh Smyth went on to say "I would call on the National Transport Authority to rethink this because this move will set us back further on the government agenda to encourage commuters to use the bus service in the absence of any other options available to them. It will push them back into cars, creating further gridlock in towns like Virginia that are 10 years out from a bypass."