Dublin parents hit hard by NTA’s fare hike – Boland

Dublin families are angry about the NTA’s recent fare restructure, which has seen a massive increase in fares for children traveling by train to school and activities, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Grace Boland, a member of the Oireachtas Transport Committee, has slammed the changes, highlighting the disproportionate impact on young commuters.

“Since April, parents have flooded my office with concerns over skyrocketing train fares for their children. What used to cost €0.65 per journey has now jumped to €1.95—tripling costs for families. Over the course of a school year, that’s an increase from €217 to a hefty €651 per child. This is simply unsustainable.”

Deputy Boland warns that the fare hike is placing huge financial strain on families in Dublin, particularly in areas like Balbriggan and Skerries in her own constituency of Dublin Fingal West.

“Parents shouldn’t be forced to drive to other rail stations such as Rush and Lusk to avail of lower fares. The NTA and Irish Rail must act—either to reinstate the fares or at a minimum cap the weekly cost, to prevent families from being priced out of public transport.”

With the school year ending soon, Deputy Boland is urging the NTA and Irish Rail to use the summer months to review the fare structure and introduce a fairer system before September. 

“Young people need to be encouraged to use public transport—not pricing them out. If we truly want fewer cars on the road and a greener, more accessible transport system, we must ensure fares are affordable for families.”

Deputy Boland is calling on the NTA and Irish Rail to acknowledge the real burden this price hike is placing on parents and take immediate steps to fix the flawed fare structure before the next school year begins or sooner.