Kildare Councillor Questions Govt. Role In September's Transport Fare Increases

It follows an announcement that fares would rise by an average of 15 per cent

A Kildare councillor has called on the Transport Minister to explain the Government's role in the public transport fare increases which are due in January 2027.

Records were released to him following a recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

It follows an announcement in September that fares would rise by an average of 15 per cent across bus and rail routes.

The NTA also told an Oireachtas Committee that further price hikes to use public transport are likely in the future.

Social Democrats Councillor for Kildare/Newbridge MD Chris Pender raised particular concern about Dublin commuter zones which include Kildare, Newbridge, Sallins and Naas.

FOI data released to the Councillor show that, according to an April email from the Department of Public Expenditure, Ministers agreed in October 2025 to reverse earlier fare reductions.

The original plan was for the change to take effect in June 2026 and the agreement was not implemented on that timetable.

Instead, officials in the Department of Transport sought a decision on a revised 15 per cent increase from January 2027 on 3 July.

In FOI correspondence by the NTA, it said that despite the projected increases, "adult fares today are 20 per cent lower than in 2019, with young adults up to the age of 26 paying only 50% of the adult fare".

"The revised fares are the first general increase in fares announced since 2018, and even after the fare changes are introduced, most fares will remain lower than they were in 2019," it added.

It also emphasised the importance of needing to "strike the right balance" between an attractive fare offering for passengers and supporting the overall Public Service Obligtation (PSO) public transport budget. 

As part of the increases, a Newbridge adult Leap single ticket to Dublin will increase from €6 to €6.90.

The Zone 3 monthly ticket will rise from €196 to €225.

The standard monthly InterCity ticket applicable to Athy and Monasterevin will increase from €263 to €317.50.

Speaking to Kfm News, Cllr Pender said : "These aren't theoretical figures. That's €29 more a month on a Zone 3 ticket and €54.50 more on the relevant monthly ticket from Athy or Monasterevin".

"People are already putting up with packed trains and awkward connections. Some can't drive and don't have another realistic option," he added.

Train overcrowding has been cited as a significant issue for those in the county boarding trains towards Dublin, particularly during rush hour periods.

The Government has since announced more than €1 billion in public transport operating funding for 2027, with Pender curious to know whether the NTA has recalculated how much additional income it needs from fares.

"I understand services cost money, and I want more of them. But before the January increase takes effect, tell us what Minister O'Brien decided after his officials wrote to him in July, whether the Budget changed the figures, and what people in Kildare will actually get," Cllr Pender concluded.