Cork politicians call for proposed public transport fare hikes to be overturned

Cork City Council unanimously backed a motion opposing fare increases, while the Green Party is seeking €85 million in Budget funding

Cork councillors oppose public transport fare hikes and call for Government funding. Picture: Denis Minihane.

Cork politicians are to call on the transport minister to overturn proposed public transport fare increases.

Cork City Council unanimously voted to request that Darragh O’Brien reverse the proposed increases in public transport fares.

Raising fares would undermine recent positive changes in public transport, including increased use, efforts to reduce car dependency and progress on strategies such as the Cork Metropolitan Area Transportation Strategy, according to a motion proposed by Green Party councillor Dan Boyle.

While millions of euros have been given by the Government in fuel supports following the fuel protests — supports which were recently extended — public transport fares are to be hiked across the country, Mr Boyle told Cork City Council this week.

Escalating fuel costs following the war in Iran led to blockades across the country, which disrupted fuel supplies and crippled road networks. In response, the Government cut the cost of a litre of diesel by 30c and a litre of petrol by 25c in April, along with other fuel supports.

These supports were budgeted to cost the State hundreds of millions of euros.

But many people will now suffer due to the rising public transport fares, including those who are reliant on public transport and already bearing the cost of poor transport policy, Mr Boyle said.

“Fair fares is the only road we should be travelling with public transport. Reversing direction only returns us to the decades of neglect we have only started to emerge from. The Government has a responsibility to maintain and strengthen support for public transport,” he said.

Fine Gael councillor Shane O’Callaghan supported the motion.

“If you want to increase public transport use you should not increase prices,” he said.

Labour Party councillor Peter Horgan also supported the motion and called for multi-annual funding to allow for better delivery of public transport.

Sinn Féin councillor Joe Lynch said that while there was an increase in bus fares, there was no increase in services on his local route.

“I don’t think people would have as much of an issue with it if they got the services they need and deserve,” he said.

People are already suffering from a cost-of-living crisis, Sinn Féin councillor Michelle Gould said, and now the Government was advocating for an increase in fares while providing unreliable or non-existent services in some parts of Cork city.

She also voted to back the motion.

Green Party seeks €85 million for public transport

Green Party councillors also tabled motions in Dublin this week, calling on the Minister for Transport to overturn the proposed public transport fare hikes.

The Green Party is calling on the Government to provide the National Transport Authority (NTA) with €85m in the Budget in four weeks’ time to spare public transport fares from the price hikes.

"These fare hikes impact people all over the country, from a Dublin Bus service to a Local Link connecting rural villages, no one is spared," Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman said.

"We are asking that those who take public transport, be it because it is more affordable, more convenient, gives them more time with their families, or because it is more environmentally friendly, not be punished for the decision they make”.