Paul Murphy calls for fare-free public transport after cuts
Paul Murphy spoke on 17 May 2022 about public transport fares, arguing for fare-free public transport and highlighting recent fare cuts. He said cutting fares saves people's money, reduces congestion and cuts CO2 emissions, and noted over a hundred cities and towns have moved to fare-free public transport.
Call for fare-free transport
Paul Murphy challenged the Taoiseach to back a plan for fare-free public transport, asking whether the government will support a move to free, fast and frequent services and urging action to scale up the recent fare reductions.
Impact of recent fare cuts
He noted public transport fares were cut for the first time since World War II and said the reduction has led to an increase in passenger numbers. Murphy argued that lower fares save money for families, reduce congestion and cut CO2 emissions.
Cost of Living Coalition protest
Murphy said fare-free public transport is one of the demands of the Cost of Living Coalition and referenced a planned protest at the Dáil on Thursday at one o'clock to press the case for free fares.
Government response and youth fares
Deputy McBerry responded that the fare cuts are welcome and are producing increased usage, but said free fares are not a realistic prospect. She noted the government has taken budgetary decisions affecting younger people under 25 and said the measures will be kept under review.
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Thanks, Ken Corlett, Taoiseach. Public transport fares have recently been cut for the first time since World War II and as a consequence we have seen an increase in passenger numbers. That is very welcome. Imagine what moving to free, fast and frequent public transport could do. We know that cutting fares saves people's money, it reduces congestion and it cuts CO2 emissions. Over a hundred cities and towns across the globe have now moved to fare-free public transport. We should do the same here. It is one of the demands of the Cost of Living Coalition which is having a protest on Thursday at one o'clock at the Dáil. The question, Taoiseach, is whether you will support a plan to achieve fare-free public transport. Deputy McBerry. In terms of the public transport fares, I think it is very welcome that we have cut the fares of public transport and that it is leading to an increase. I think free fares is not a realistic prospect. But I think the government's decision both in terms of cutting public fares as part of the anti-inflationary measures we took, but also in the budget we took a decision for younger people under 25 to 18, 17 to 25, having the fares. That would be very effective as well and very important in encouraging and incentivising the use of public transport. And we will keep that under review. Thank you for having me. Thank you for having me. Thank you. Thank you for having me.
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