The Coach Tourism & Transport Council of Ireland (CTTC) has raised concerns about a “growing inequality” in fare pricing between State-supported public transport and private coach services.
This issue comes following the Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien TD, confirming that fare reductions, including a 20% cut in public transport fares, will continue for State-run services.
Commenting on the matter, CTTC Chairperson David Conway said that: “Private coach commuters, many of whom rely on these services in areas underserved by state transport, are being unfairly burdened by higher fares. We seek parity, not preferential treatment, for those who rely on private operators every day”.
Private coach companies serve many essential routes, especially in counties such as Meath, Kildare, Wicklow, and Louth, where State-run services are either limited or unavailable. Despite carrying tens of thousands of passengers daily, private operators do not qualify for the same discounted fares, leaving commuters — many of whom are students, young workers, and families.
Private coach companies, which serve many commuters in areas lacking state-supported services, carry tens of thousands of passengers daily. Yet, these passengers are left financially disadvantaged as they do not benefit from the same fare reductions as those using state-run services. The CTTC has urged Minister O’Brien to “include private coach services in fare reductions to address this inequity”.
Conway emphasized the “unfair disparity” and urged the Minister to expand these reductions. The called for the inclusion of private operators, noting that the CTTC seeks “parity, not preferential treatment.”
The CTTC has also expressed its willingness to engage with the Department of Transport to develop a fair framework for including private operators in future fare reduction plans.