Cork councillors call for proposed public transport fare hikes to be overturned

Cork councillors are to call on the transport minister to overturn proposed public transport fare increases.

Cork City Council unanimously voted to request that Darragh O’Brien reverse the proposed increases in public transport fares.

Raising fares would undermine recent positive changes in public transport, including increased use, efforts to reduce car dependency and progress on strategies such as the Cork Metropolitan Area Transportation Strategy, according to a motion proposed by Green Party councillor Dan Boyle.

While millions of euros have been given by the Government in fuel supports following the fuel protests — supports which were recently extended — public transport fares are to be hiked across the country, Mr Boyle told Cork City Council this week.

Escalating fuel costs following the war in Iran led to blockades across the country, which disrupted fuel supplies and crippled road networks. In response, the Government cut the cost of a litre of diesel by 30c and a litre of petrol by 25c in April, along with other fuel supports.

These supports were budgeted to cost the State hundreds of millions of euros.

Poor transport policy

But many people will now suffer due to the rising public transport fares, including those who are reliant on public transport and already bearing the cost of poor transport policy, Mr Boyle said.

“Fair fares is the only road we should be travelling with public transport. Reversing direction only returns us to the decades of neglect we have only started to emerge from. The Government has a responsibility to maintain and strengthen support for public transport."

Fine Gael councillor Shane O’Callaghan supported the motion.

“If you want to increase public transport use you should not increase prices,” he said.

Labour Party councillor Peter Horgan also supported the motion and called for multi-annual funding to allow for better delivery of public transport.

Sinn Féin councillor Joe Lynch said that while there was an increase in bus fares, there was no increase in services on his local route.

“I don’t think people would have as much of an issue with it if they got the services they need and deserve,” he said.

People are already suffering from a cost-of-living crisis, Sinn Féin councillor Michelle Gould said, and now the Government was advocating for an increase in fares while providing unreliable or non-existent services in some parts of Cork city.

She also voted to back the motion.

“I don’t think people would have as much of an issue with it if they got the services they need and deserve,” he said.

People are already suffering from a cost-of-living crisis, Sinn Féin councillor Michelle Gould said, and now the Government was advocating for an increase in fares while providing unreliable or non-existent services in some parts of Cork city.

She also voted to back the motion.