Public transport fares slashed by 50% from tomorrow for young people

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JULIEN BEHAL PHOTOGRAPHY

A 50% public transport fare reduction for young people will take effect from tomorrow, Monday.

The new half price fares apply to all subsidised public transport journeys on Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland and Local Link.

All adults aged 19 to 23 are eligible for the reduced prices and eligibility continues up to the day before their 24th birthday.

For holders of a current Student Leap Card, no action is needed – they simply pay for their journey by Leap, and the reduced fare is deducted from their card in the normal way.

However, non-student young adults looking to avail of the lower fares will need to apply for a Young Adult Leap Card for use when travelling.

The facility to apply for the Card is done online and opens on Monday May 9. Once the customer has received the Young Adult Card, they can use it on all relevant public transport services.

Customers aged under 19, already benefit from the Child 16-18 Leap Card, which is valid up to day before their 19th birthday.

Today’s fare changes for students and young adults will be accompanied by a social and digital marketing campaign.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said that when he announced a permanent 50% fare reduction for young adults in Budget 2022, he really wanted to make public transport more attractive for young people.

“I also wanted to go some way to supporting young people, by making day-to-day life a little bit more affordable,” he said.

“This fare cut is unprecedented and quite radical. But I believe strongly that it’s the way we need to go if we are serious about putting low-carbon transport at the heart of our efforts to build a sustainable future and if we want to bring people, and particularly young people, with us on that journey.”