The National Transport Authority (NTA) this month announced an average increase of 15% for adult fares on public transport services across the country. The increase, which will affect Luas, DART, Transport for Ireland (TFI), Dublin Bus and other services, is expected to add to the cost of travel for many passengers from January 2027.
The NTA has confirmed that the 90-minute unlimited travel Leap Card fare in Dublin for adults will undergo a price increase, rising from €2 to €2.30. Fares for Young Adult and Student Leap Card holders will also rise from €1 to €1.15, with the 50% discount for these passengers remaining in place. Child fares will also change, with the adult and child fare structures being revised across different services.
NTA CEO Anne Shaw stated that “these changes strike a careful balance between keeping public transport affordable and ensuring we can continue building a larger, more accessible and better-connected network for communities across Ireland”.
Shaw also highlighted that the transport body is maintaining concessions, including the 50% discount for Young Adults and student passengers, and said that around 1.5 million people will continue to benefit from fare concessions.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin defended the price increases, saying that public transport needs a “sustainable funding model” to continue expanding services. The planned increase follows several years of Government measures aimed at keeping public transport affordable. In 2022, fares across subsidised services were reduced by 20% as part of cost-of-living measures, while a 50% discount for Young Adult and Student Leap Card holders was also introduced.
The NTA has said that, despite inflation rising by 20.8% between January 2022 and May 2026, fares remained lower during this period. The authority argues that the 2027 increases will help fund the continued expansion and improvement of public transport services.
The announcement has generated criticism from across the political spectrum, with Labour transport spokesperson Ciarán Ahern arguing that the increase will disproportionately affect lower-income people, workers and students. Fianna Fáil Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee has called on the NTA CEO to appear before the Oireachtas Transport Committee to explain the decision.
The NTA described the increase as the first broad adjustment to public transport fares since 2018, with revised fares coming into effect from January 2027. Passenger numbers have continued to rise in recent years, with public transport increasingly becoming a key part of daily travel for commuters across the country.
Harry O’Leary – Co-News Editor