Over 1,500 people have signed an online petition in the past week calling on the National Transport Authority (NTA) to extend the benefits of the Leap Card to commuters in the Mallow area.

The Students' Union at University College Dublin says it has suspended the sale of student Leap Cards because of concerns over data protection.

Despite a record number of cars on Irish roads, the number of journeys on public transport increased by 16m last year to more than 252m, with 130m Leap Card users.

Many Irish air passengers will have felt a flutter of nerves last week when news broke that airlines were cancelling a number of flights to and from France as a result of air traffic control strike action.

'Kids go Free' today on all public transport services covered by the Leap Card.

Workers and students from north Cork who are regular rail users into Cork City are being penalised as they cannot avail of Leap card discounts, applicable to other so-called ‘commuter’ lines in the region.

Kids who have a Leap Card will be able to use public transport for free from today.

Leap Card Ireland recently brought out a new TV ad showing which the cities where you can now use the service - Cork , Dublin, Galway, Wexford, Waterford and Limerick.