Green Party T.D. for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh, has welcomed figures released by the NTA showing record-breaking numbers of passengers using public transport in 2023, saying it proves the old line ‘build it and they will come’.
Figures released by the NTA today show a 133% recovery in passenger numbers since 2019, equating to 304 million passenger journeys across all services. This compares very favourably with figures across Europe, where numbers using public transport have remained down in pre-pandemic times.
Dep. Ó Cathasaigh believes that this success is down to investment in new services on the one hand and sustained effort to drive down fare prices on the other.
‘Anyone using our buses or trains regularly can see that these services are being better used than ever. The 20% decrease in fares, the first decrease in decades, was a really important cost-of-living measure, and people have responded. It’s been led by young people in particular, who benefit from a further 50% reduction in fares – they’re using our buses and trains more to get to and from college, training, sports facilities or just to meet up with friends in their local towns. With this extension, it also means that more young people who may be staring along their work paths can also enjoy lower cost travel.’
The 50% public transport fare reduction in place for young people aged between 16 and 23 years was extended last week to now include 24- and 25-year-olds.
The most significant jump in passenger numbers reported by the NTA occurred in Local Link services, with a 759% increase in passenger numbers since 2018.
For Dep. Ó Cathasaigh, this reflects the success of the Green Party policy to invest in new routes across rural Ireland.
‘This proves the old line, ‘if you build it, they will come’. This is an investment we fought for in the Programme for Government, and last year 65 new or enhanced Connecting Ireland services were launched across Ireland last year. In a Waterford context, this means new routes linking Tramore to Dunmore, Dungarvan to Clonmel through Ballymacarbery, it means extensions of routes across West Waterford, connecting on to Fermoy and Youghal, it means massive additional investment in the 360 route to increase frequency between Waterford and Tramore. And people are using them, and using them well.’
‘This benefits more than just those using public transport services. Increasing numbers using our buses reduces congestion for those who are reliant on the car for whatever reason, and it helps towards achieving our emission reduction targets in meeting the climate challenge we face. This is good for our pockets, good for our communities, and good for the wider environment.’
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