It could be another four years before people can use contactless payments on public transport in Ireland, a TD has revealed. 

While tens of millions of contact payments are made every day across the country, not a single one is made when a person jumps on a bus, DART, Luas or train. 

Instead, a ticket or Leap Card must be produced - the same system that was used in the 2010s when smartphones were still new technology. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Dublin Fingal West TD Grace Boland described this as a “huge bugbear” of hers. 

 “Unfortunately, it looks like it’s going to be 2028 or 2029 before we get contactless payments,” she said. 

“But we can absolutely in the meantime streamline all of these apps to make it easier for people to plan and pay for their journeys. 

“That will actually help with integrated and contactless payment.” 

Some of Bus Éireann's fleet. Picture by: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie. 

The Fine Gael TD said Transport for Ireland needs to condense the multiple apps commuters use into a single TfI app. 

“I’d like to see one single app where you plan your journey, check real-time information and buy your ticket,” she argued. 

“It should be easy; there is the technology, we shouldn’t have so many apps. 

“How can we encourage people onto public transport when we’re getting them to log onto several different apps. 

“How can we encourage people onto public transport when we’re getting them to log onto several different apps? The digital front door has to be easier.”

The Luas tram passes in front of Trinity College Dublin at College Green. Picture by: Alamy.com. 

Deputy Boland added that transport systems in other countries have already introduced similar apps that both visitors and locals can use. 

“You look at places like Singapore where there’s one integrated app, you look at many cities across Europe that have multimodal transport, [they] have one app and people can clearly plan their journeys,” she said. 

“Tourists must be absolutely baffled when they come to Ireland as to which app to download, which one is reliable. 

“Even today, I was having a look at the TFI live app and the reviews of it, which helps people plan their journeys, it’s only got two stars. 

“Which leads me to believe that it’s not even a reliable app.” 

The Department of Transport has been contacted for comment.

Main image: A Leap Card being held against a validator. Picture by: leapcard.ie