Minister for Transport has failed residents of Skerries and Balbriggan – Louise O’Reilly TD

Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Social Protection, Louise O’Reilly TD, has condemned the Minister for Transport and the National Transport Authority’s failure to include Skerries and Balbriggan in the Dublin City Zone in National Fare Strategy zonal adjustments to be rolled out next Monday. 

The National Fares Strategy will introduce a Dublin City Zone and a Dublin Commuter Zone.  The Dublin City Zone is meant to be an extended version of the current TFI 90 Zone, which did not previously extend as far as Rush and Lusk.  

This expanded Dublin City Zone covers Bray in Wicklow, Ashbourne and Ratoath in Meath.  However, it does not cover Balbriggan or Skerries, only extending as far as Rush and Lusk. The €2 TFI-90 fare remains in place in the City Zone. 

Teachta O’Reilly said: 

“Inclusion in the Dublin City Zone would have made considerable difference to my constituents.  In the Dublin City Zone, the €2 Leap Card fare gets people to Connolly Station.  The same trip from Balbriggan or Skerries to Connolly Station is significantly more expensive. 

“From Balbriggan, it is €3.90 and from Skerries it is €2.90.  For my constituents from Balbriggan, this will cost them €20 more a week and €1,000 a year.  This is not money they have. 

“While many commuters from outside Dublin will see a decrease in their fares under these zonal adjustments, commuters from two of the fastest growing areas in Dublin, Balbriggan and Skerries, are having their fares increased.  This is on top of the additional costs incurred by parking at train stations. 

“I engaged with both the National Transport Authority and Minister for Transport, outlining the consequences of these zonal adjustments – to no avail. 

“I raised this in the Dáil Chamber earlier this month and the Minister of State’s reply did not even acknowledge these consequences.  The Minister of State provided no explanation for me and my constituents, as to why commuters from the towns of Skerries and Balbriggan will have to pay more to get into town and use the public transport service.  While at the same time, he insisted improving public transport services and infrastructure is central to improving quality of life, achieving decarbonisation, and is part of the goals set out in the Programme the Government.

“This does not make sense.  If the Government wants people to use public transport, it needs to make it accessible, frequent and affordable. 

“More money is being charged to my constituents to use public transport, while at the same time they are being told that they have to play their part in decarbonisation, which they want to do.  They are Dubs.  They live in Dublin.  They want to be in the Dublin City Commuter Zone.”