Proposed increases to city bus fares in Kilkenny are slammed

Cllr Maria Dollard (inset) has hit out at proposed increases to public transport fares in Kilkenny while the NTA cite increased costs, inflation and public policy as justifications for fare changes | Iconic Media

placeholder image — Cllr Maria Dollard (inset) has hit out at proposed increases to public transport fares in Kilkenny while the NTA cite increased costs, inflation and public policy as justifications for fare changes | Iconic Media

Planned fare increases by the National Transport Authority have come under fire from a Kilkenny councillor at County Hall

Public transport fares on city buses are set to rise in Kilkenny next year despite an ongoing push at local level to get more people out of their cars and onto buses and bicycles.

Green Party councillor Maria Dollard has called for the planned increases to be reversed, arguing they risk undermining efforts to increase public transport use while adding to costs for commuters, students and families.

The issue was raised at the September plenary meeting of Kilkenny County Council, where Cllr Dollard tabled a motion calling on the Minister [for Transport] to reverse the increases, which are due to take effect in 2027.

Under the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) ‘2026 Fares Determination’, the adult Leap fare on Kilkenny City bus services will increase by 10%, from €1.50 to €1.65, while the adult cash fare will rise by 15%, from €2 to €2.30.

Nationally, Bus Éireann stage carriage fares will increase by an average of 15%, while Intercity rail express fares will rise by 10% and economy fares by up to 20%.

Cllr Dollard said the increases were at odds with Kilkenny’s efforts to encourage greater use of public transport through its Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) and County Development Plan.

DEMAND

“Kilkenny people are constantly asking for more bus routes and more frequency,” she said. “School children and workers are asking for more services. Kilkenny people are sick of being stuck in traffic.”

The debate comes as demand and investment in Kilkenny’s bus network have increased.

An additional bus was introduced on the 8am westbound KK2 service for the start of the 2025 school term, doubling capacity at that time to accommodate anticipated increased demand from secondary school students, including pupils attending the relocated CBC Kilkenny.

Reliability, however, has also emerged as an issue. Earlier this year, the NTA acknowledged performance problems affecting Kilkenny City bus services, identifying congestion and roadworks as contributing factors.

Cllr Dollard also cited evidence given to the Oireachtas Transport Committee this month by NTA Director of Public Transport Services Jeremy Ryan.

Mr Ryan said the NTA uses a broad estimate that a 10% increase in fares results in around a 3% reduction in passenger numbers, while cautioning that circumstances vary and capacity pressures could affect the actual impact.

Cllr Dollard called for greater Government investment in additional routes, increased frequency and improved public transport facilities.

“Increasing the cost of public transport when we need to encourage people out of their cars is the opposite of what we should be doing,” she said.

Justifying its determination, the NTA stated that “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.”