A Laois TD has called on the National Transport Authority to extend the young adult travel card to include private and coach operators.
Currently, the Youth Travel Card provides a 50% discount on all public transport systems for all young people up to the age of 23.
Fine Gael TD Charlie Flanagan spoke on the issue recently and how he would like to see this extended.
He said: “As part of Budget 2022, funding was secured to provide for the introduction of a youth travel card (YTC).
“This allows any person nationwide who is between 19 and 23 years to avail of an entitlement for discounted travel costs and to increase the level of discount over and above the current student discount to an average discount of 50%.
“As a rural TD I am acutely aware of the challenges facing young people in terms of rural transport.
“I recently tabled a Parliamentary Question requesting that the scope of eligibility for the young adult travel card scheme is expanded to include private bus and coach operators in order to avoid the exclusion of young persons living outside large urban areas in which public transport is not readily available.
“Many private bus and coach operators provide much needed reliable and efficient services across the constituency and should be included in the YTC Scheme.
“I am now calling on the National Transport Authority to take this under consideration when finalising the implementation of new fare structures for young adults.”
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