2026 Fares Determination
Since 2022, the cost of operating public transport services has increased, the fare levels have decreased, and public policy has extended free travel to new cohorts of passenger narrowing the fare revenue base.
The shift in economic landscape following the COVID pandemic led to a sharp increase in price inflation of 20.8% between January 2022 and May 2026 in Ireland1. This price inflation also extends to the cost of operating subsidised public transport services such as the cost for purchase / maintenance of vehicles, fuel and staff costs. The post pandemic increase in patronage requires additional vehicles which incurs additional staff costs to drive and maintain the fleet, which puts further pressure on the PSO public transport budget.
In the same time period as the 20.8% price inflation, public transport fares decreased through various measures including the 20% cost of living discount which was applied to all subsidised public transport fares and the Young Adult / Student discount of 50% on equivalent adult leap fares applied in 2022. In 2025, free travel was extended to include children under 9 and for companions of those over 70 as part of the Free Travel Scheme.
Further details are in the Fare Determination page linked below
Services covered
- Dublin City Zone: Bus Services operated by Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland, Luas light rail services and DART heavy rail services operated by Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail.
- Dublin Commuter Zone: Bus services operated by Bus Éireann, Go-Ahead Ireland, J.J. Kavanagh & Sons, and commuter rail services operated by Iarnród Éireann.
- Regional City: Bus services in Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford
- Town: Athlone, Balbriggan, Carlow, Clonmel, Drogheda, Dundalk, Kilkenny (city) , Mullingar, Navan, Portlaoise and Sligo
- National: Bus Éireann stage carriage and Intercity rail services operated by Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail.
- TFI Local Link: Regular Rural Services
For more information, please see the publications page(s) below.