Adult Bus and Train Fares to Rise by 15% from January
Sunday 6 September 2026
Adult public transport fares nationwide will increase by an average of 15% in January, a move defended by Junior Minister Seán Canney despite criticism over concurrent motorist fuel subsidies.
Adult public transport fares on buses and trains across Ireland will increase by an average of 15% starting in January.
Junior Minister for Road Safety Seán Canney has defended the upcoming price increases, stating that he hopes the extra revenue will help resolve issues with delayed and cancelled services. Speaking at the Irish Road Haulage Association conference in Killarney, the Galway East TD dismissed concerns that the nationwide fare hikes are unfair to regular commuters.
The increases come shortly after the Dáil returned early to approve an extension of fuel duty relief for motorists, which keeps petrol and diesel excise reductions in place. Specifically, the reductions of 30c per litre for diesel and 25c per litre for petrol have been extended until 31 October.
Addressing the apparent policy conflict between incentivising private car use through fuel subsidies while increasing transport costs for commuters, the minister noted that rising living costs affect all travellers, remarking that "everybody is hard-pressed."