Top-up your Leap card from your smartphone in January

Anyone who uses a Leap card is familiar with that dinging noise that tells you your balance is running low. That means that the next time you travel, you're going to need to get through the top-up process at a machine or shop in advance.

But soon, anyone with a NFC-compatible smartphone will be able to top-up conveniently no matter where they are. The National Transport Authority plans to roll out an app that will let you top-up your Leap card by tapping it against your smartphone and following the instructions.

The Leap Top-up app could be released on the Google Play Store as soon as January. You'll need an NFC-enabled device to use it. Unfortunately, iOS users won't be able to take advantage of the app until Apple Pay launches in Ireland.