Councillors from across Dublin City Council condemn decision to raise public transport fares
Councillors across Dublin City Council (DCC) have condemned the decision to raise public transport fares, although Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael politicians focused most of their ire on the National Transport Authority (NTA) over Government.
The changes would see an average 15pc increase to public transport fares across the country from January next year.
Speaking at Monday night’s monthly DCC meeting, members from across parties supported three emergency motions calling for the increases not to go ahead.
Colm O’Rourke for the Fine Gael group said he was “very much opposed” to the fare hikes.
“For years as a council. We’ve been pleading with Dubliners, not just asking them, to leave the car at home, and now there’s a plan to increase fares.
“So our message to the NTA in particular is, we can’t tell Dubliners to leave the car at home to then be mugged at the bus stop,” he said.
The NTA operates under the aegis of the Department of Transport and its funding allocation is decided by the Fianna Fáil transport minister, Darragh O’Brien.
Fianna Fáil councillor Rory Hogan said he felt the fare increases were “a step too far”, and said the 33pc increase in the Dublin short hop fare was “particularly difficult to support”.
“That said, I do think it’s important to put on the record the very substantial investment that has gone into public transport in recent years,” he said, adding that around 60pc of the cost of running public transport services was borne by the State.
Paddy Monahan from the Social Democrats said it was a Government decision to raise fares, and that it should be reversed “immediately”.
“Excellent public transport requires excellent funding, that falls at the door of the government,” he said.
“As the old saying goes, don’t tell me your priorities. Show me where you spend your money and I’ll tell you your priorities.
“Public transport fare increases are a short-sighted and retrograde measure that will push yet more people into private cars on Dublin’s already choking and congested roads,” he added.
Green Party councillor Ray Cunningham said the fare increases would “hit those people who can afford it least,” and that his party reduced transport fares in the previous government.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the increase is necessary in order to expand the public transport system and “Government aren’t in a position to fund everything forever”.