Expansion of free child travel scheme ‘fair and inclusive’, says Cork TD

Thu, 04 Sep, 2025 - 17:02

Rachel Lysaght

Cork TDs have described the expansion of free travel to children aged under nine years old as a positive development for families across the city and county.

Transport minister Darragh O’Brien announced this week that 263,000 children nationwide, aged between five and eight, will now be eligible for free travel on all Transport for Ireland (TFI) services, with a TFI Child Leap Card.

Services include Bus Éireann, Go-Ahead Ireland, Local Links, Iarnród Éireann, Dublin Bus, and the Luas.

Accessibility

Children under five years old already travel free, and this expansion ensures that no child is charged for public transport until their ninth birthday.

This measure was announced as part of the Budget 2025 package, and comes as a bid to improve the affordability and accessibility of public transport for families across the country.

Fianna Fáil Cork North-West TD, Aindrias Moynihan, said that this new expansion “eases the financial burden on households and makes public transport a far more attractive option for families”.

“This is a really positive development for families in Cork and right across the country,” said Mr Moynihan.

“This initiative is about more than cost savings. It encourages the use of public transport from an early age, helping to build sustainable travel habits and reduce emissions.

“It also delivers on a clear commitment in the programme for government to make transport more affordable, more accessible, and more sustainable.

“Families in both urban and rural areas will benefit, and I believe this will be warmly welcomed across Co Cork.”

Support

Fine Gael Cork South-Central TD, Jerry Buttimer, who is also the minister of state with responsibility for rural transport, said that the expansion will “support almost a quarter of a million more children and their families”.

“By providing access to free travel for under-nines, it also lays foundations for lifelong habits of sustainable travel,” said Mr Buttimer.

“From an early age, children will become more familiar with using buses, trains, and trams as a natural part of daily life.

“This scheme represents a significant step towards a more fair and inclusive public transport system.

“Parents juggling school runs or weekend trips into town will now see the benefits of free travel for young children,” he added.

“Importantly, it applies across all TFI services, including Local Link and services under Connecting Ireland, that are the backbone of connectivity for so many rural communities. This step ensures that families, whether in cities, towns, or villages, can access public transport offerings as part of daily life.”