Leap card take-up exceeds expectations; Kelly denies €55m cost

Up to 15,000 people have already signed up for the integrated Leap travel card, less than a month since it was introduced.

The card allows people in Dublin to switch between bus, Luas, Dart and commuter rail services with one ticket and is due to be rolled out further around the country this year.

The take-up rate so far has beaten expectations, and is already 5,000 higher than the total number of subscriptions to the Luas Smart Card system.

The figures have been revealed by Junior Transport Minister Alan Kelly, who has also denied reports that the scheme has cost €55m so far, saying it has cost "€48m to date".