9% rise in fares on public transport approved

Public transport users are to face an immediate increase in fares on the State-owned CIÉ companies, following yesterday's approval of a 9 per cent rise by the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan.

In some cases promotional fares, such as weekly or monthly commuter tickets, may rise by more than 9 per cent but they are unlikely to be introduced before January next.

Additional difficulties are scheduled to be faced from next week as the capital's two main taxi unions begin industrial action in protest at what they say is a lack of progress in negotiations on industry regulation with Mr Brennan.

Both the National Taxi Drivers' Union and the Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation are to take part in a strike and protest convoy to the Dáil between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Thursday next.

In granting the 9 per cent increase to CIÉ, the Minister said it was the first increase in CIÉ fares since 1998 and only the second increase since 1991. Inflation had amounted to more than 30 per cent over the past decade while CIÉ fares had increased by a little more than 8 per cent, he said.

Not all tickets will go up at the same time, however. Irish Rail and Dublin bus increases will take effect on some tickets from December, while other - the promotional fares - will increase from January.

The difference is applied because the Minister only regulates "statutory" or standard fares. In effect, the transport companies may increase promotional fares when they like. However, as there is little point in having promotional fares higher than standard fares, the rise in promotional fares tends to follow the rise in standard fares.

At Iarnród Éireann only single and return suburban tickets as well as single inter-city tickets are regulated by the Minister. These tickets will rise by 9 per cent, most likely from the first week in December, a spokesman said last night.

In January prices for commuter tickets, five-day returns, family tickets and other fares will come into effect. The company is not restricted to a rise of 9 per cent in these fares and the spokesman said the actual amount won't be announced until the completion of a review of fares.

A similar situation exists at Dublin Bus, where all cash fares are likely to rise from December 1st, according to a spokeswoman. Again rises in promotional fares are expected to be deferred until January but are not restricted to rises of just 9 per cent.

At Bus Éireann, however, a spokesman said the increases would come into force "as soon as practicable".

A figure of 9 per cent on average across the broad range of tickets was the most likely move, the spokesman said.

The Opposition spokesman on Transport, Mr Denis Naughten of Fine Gael, said the Estimates for public transport published yesterday "herald an escalation of the transport chaos".