A 15% increase in bus and train fares means public transport users are being “fleeced” to pay for the extension of excise duty cuts, the Dublin Commuter Coalition has argued.
From January, the National Transport Authority will implement a new fare structure that will increase fares by an average of 15%.
As an example, it means TfI’s 90 minute fare across Dublin will rise from €2 to €2.30.
On The Claire Byrne Show, Dublin Commuter Coalition Jason Cullen described the increase as “absolutely outrageous”.
“The worst part about it is they tried to do this 12 months ago,” he said.
“It broke too early and there was absolute media backlash so they had to renege on it.
“We've been flagging it for 12 months with opposition TDs; time and time again, we've gotten from the press office and from the minister's office, ‘No, not happening, no plans at this time.’
“Even as recently as May, actually through Deputy Daly's office, we got a press release saying not happening.
“And here we are today, we get one day's notice, 15% increase in fares.”
Irish Rail trains. Picture by: Alamy.com.Last month, the Government announced that cuts to fuel duty would be extended to November and then slowly phased out by the end of February.
The tax cut is forecast to cost the exchequer €407 million and Mr Cullen argued that it means bus users will now be subsidising motorists.
“The worst part about it is that a week ago, the Dáil was recalled to extend the fuel subsidies for private motorists,” he said.
“And that costs about €2 million a day, right? Today, that 15% increase for public transport users is the equivalent exchequer rise in income, about €2 million a day, a little more actually.
“Public transport users are being fleeced to pay for the private transport users to continue to drive their cars at a slightly cheaper rate.
“It's literally a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul and it's punishing the behaviour they want, sustainable transport use, to enable the behaviour they don't want, private transport use.”
View this post on Instagram
Main image: A split of a bus and a fuel nozzle. Pictures by: Alamy/Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.
