Dublin to Fully Implement Contactless Payments on Public Transport by 2029, Confirms Minister

Contactless payments across Dublin’s bus, tram, and railway public transport networks will not be fully operational until 2029, as confirmed by Minister Darragh O’Brien during an Oireachtas hearing. The first testing phase of the new contactless payments system will begin in 2027 in a controlled area within Dublin, covering bus, rail, and Luas. Subsequent phases are scheduled for summer 2028 and 2029, with the aim of having the system fully operational by then.

The Minister mentioned the possibility of shortening the gap between testing phases but could not provide a commitment. The introduction of this new contactless ticketing system is expected to bring significant changes and will be managed by Spanish company Indra.

Regarding public transport fares, Minister O’Brien expressed his intention to maintain the 90-minute €2 fare beyond this year. He also highlighted plans to extend free travel for five- to eight-year-olds starting in September and to expand student travel fares up to 25-year-olds.

Recent fare reductions have reportedly led to increased public transport usage, although the exact impact is challenging to quantify. Data shows that over one million public transport journeys are made in Dublin daily.

In terms of electric vehicles (EVs), Ireland lags behind the EU average in the number of charging points per capita. Efforts are underway to address this shortfall, including exploring grant options for lower and middle-income families and rural residents, with potential support for second-hand EVs.

Minister O’Brien acknowledged the need to improve EV infrastructure and expressed a commitment to advancing active travel schemes. The Government plans to invest in public transport infrastructure and seek additional funding to enhance active travel initiatives.