SIPTU has called on the Government to provide the funding needed to prevent adult public transport fares from increasing by an average of 15% from January 2027, warning that the move will worsen the cost-of-living crisis, undermine climate policy, and inevitably affect pay negotiations across the public and private sectors.
The increases announced by the National Transport Authority will apply across Public Service Obligation services, including Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Irish Rail, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland and TFI Local Link. They will affect cash and Leap Card fares, along with weekly and monthly tickets.
SIPTU Deputy General Secretary for the Public Service, Adrian Kane, said: “Workers who rely on buses, trains and the Luas to get to their workplaces cannot afford a 15% increase in the cost of doing so. They are already struggling with excessive housing, food, energy and other essential costs.
“The cost of getting to work is a cost of work. If the Government permits commuting costs to increase by 15%, trade unions will have no choice but to factor that further reduction in workers’ disposable incomes into pay negotiations across both the public and private sectors.
“A worker paying the current €2 Dublin 90-minute fare twice each working day could face an additional annual commuting cost of approximately €150. For workers making longer journeys, or those who must use several services, the impact could be considerably greater.
He added: “The Government cannot claim to be addressing the cost-of-living crisis while simultaneously allowing a double-digit increase in one of the most basic expenses incurred by hundreds of thousands of workers.”
SIPTU Deputy General Secretary for the Private Sector, Greg Ennis, said: “This proposal is also completely at odds with the State’s environmental and climate commitments. Government policy should be focused on making public transport cheaper, more reliable and more accessible so that workers have a realistic alternative to private cars.
“Instead, the State is making the more sustainable option more expensive. That sends entirely the wrong signal to workers and commuters who have chosen, or have no alternative but, to use public transport.
“By its own account, the Government has committed more than €1.3 billion in fuel and energy supports over 12 months, including hundreds of millions of euros in fuel-tax reductions and direct assistance for road transport operators, farmers and other sectors.
“SIPTU does not oppose measures that protect employment, essential supply chains or livelihoods. However, it is unacceptable that such extensive resources can be found while workers using public transport are told that they must absorb a 15% fare increase.
“Some of these resources should be directed towards protecting commuters and supporting a proper transition to affordable and sustainable public transport.”
SIPTU is calling on the Government to engage immediately with the NTA and trade unions, provide the funding needed to halt the planned increases, and develop a programme to reduce fares while improving the capacity, frequency, safety, and reliability of public transport services.