Major change for thousands of Irish bus passengers to begin next week – with fares set to be more ‘easy to understand'
The National
3
A major change is set to come into effect for Irish bus passengers
Credit: Alamy
3
Fares will be adjusted in accordance with the distance from Dublin
Credit: NTA
The NTA has a new fare system that's set to simplify pricing by using the direct distance between start and end points of a passenger's journey.
And they said it aims to make fares more 'equitable and easy to understand.'
This replaces the older model where various transport providers such as Bus Éireann used separate fare zones that often didn't match up.
The Leap Card travel area has now been divided into four pricing zones.
READ MORE IN TRAVEL
In Zone 1, the 90-minute fare will stay the same with €2 for adults, €1 for students and young adults and €0.65 for children.
For
Zone 2 includes places such as Greystones, Kilcock, Kilcoole, Gormanston, Skerries and Sallins & Naas - and a bus ride to Dublin will cost €3.70 for adults and €1.85 for students, young adults and children.
Zone 3 includes
Most read in News Travel
Those using children, students and young adult Leap Cards in Zone 3 will now pay €2.65 to reach the city centre.
Covering more distant areas like Rathdrum and Kildare Town, Zone 4 has fares of €6.30 for adults while students,
'It's very important' - Ryanair's 'baggage sizers' warning to Irish passengers ahead of busy Easter break amid €75 fine
These fare adjustments are set to take effect on June 16 and apply to both Bus Éireann and Go-Ahead Ireland routes.
Leap Card users will still have better value than cash payers for single journey fares and new options will offer daily, weekly and monthly passes that are valid across all of the zones.
There will also be a €67.20 weekly cap for adults traveling across all four zones.
These revisions follow similar changes made to train fares in April.
TRAIN FARE PRICES
Train journeys to and from Dublin Commuter Zones 3 and 4 have seen reduced fares - from places like Drogheda, Laytown, Enfield, Newbridge, Kildare,
However, some fares between Dublin and towns like Balbriggan, Skerries, Kilcock and Sallins & Naas increased.
Fares for all trips within Dublin City Zone 1 have remain unchanged.
And the daily and weekly Leap Cap only applies within Dublin City Zone 1.
The new ePurse maximum fares are €7.50 for adults, €3.75 for students and young adults, and €3.75 for
The Intercity Luas Add-On for cross-city journeys has also been eliminated - which currently costs €1.40 for a single, €32 for a monthly, or €320 for an annual ticket.
The minimum Leap Card ePurse balance required for adult fares is now €1 for journeys within Dublin City Zone and €2.50 for Dublin Commuter Zones 2, 3, and 4.
For young adults and children, the minimum balance is only one cent.
And since April some ticket types have been discontinued, including adult, student, and child weekly and monthly tickets.
3
The Leap Card travel area has now been divided into four pricing zones
Credit: PA:Press Association
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘Irish working mothers are at a significant financial disadvantage' – unions back calls for full year's maternity leave
It is now official Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) policy, after a motion calling for 52 weeks of maternity pay north and south of the border was adopted by delegates at its biennial conference this week. The motion said current maternity pay arrangements fall short of international best practice. Tabled by the British Fire Brigades Union, it claimed there is a 'postcode lottery' effect where workers in some regions and sectors get markedly inferior benefits. Workers and self-employed individuals in the Republic of Ireland are entitled to a social welfare maternity benefit payment of €289 per week for 26 weeks. Some employers top up the entitlement. Employer group Isme supported measures to provide women with paid maternity leave, but said it should be supported by the social fund. Bulgaria offers approximately 58.6 weeks (410 days) of paid maternity leave 'Obviously a year's salary for someone not attending work would not be sustainable for the vast majority of employers, therefore this type of measure must be underwritten by the social fund,' said chief executive Neil McDonnell. He said Bulgaria offers approximately 58.6 weeks (410 days) of paid maternity leave. Mr McDonnell said 90pc of the mother's full salary is paid from its National Health Insurance Fund. 'Employers would not welcome an increase in PRSI, obviously, but if asked to pay for long-term maternity leave, it would be the only way to do so,' he said. 'A creche with four childminders or a hairdresser with five stylists could not afford to pay someone for a year who was not working. This is very obvious, and everyone including Ictu knows this.' Ictu spokesperson Laura Bambrick said the move would entail a hike in PRSI for workers, the self-employed and employers. She said Ireland compares very favourably to EU countries in terms of the duration of paid maternity leave benefits, at 26 weeks. 'But when comparing the payment rates for maternity benefit, Irish working mothers are at a significant financial disadvantage,' she said. Ms Bambrick said maternity benefit at €289 a week for 26 weeks (€7,514) is equivalent to just over nine weeks' full pay for the average employee nationwide. It is worth just under eight weeks for an employee in Dublin, where average gross pay is higher (€49,500) than the national average (€42,100), according to Revenue data. "For a full-time worker on the minimum wage (€526), maternity benefit replaces little over half their weekly wage,' she said. Unions will be holding their feet to the fire to deliver on these important work-life balance measures Ms Bambrick welcomed Programme for Government commitments on pay-related family leave. 'Unions will be holding their feet to the fire to deliver on these important work-life balance measures for working families,' she said. A Department of Children, Disabliity and Equality spokesperson said family leave entitlements have increased significantly over the past years. She said a 'Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families' commits that by 2028, parents in Ireland will be supported to look after their babies at home for the whole of their first year through a combination of paid family leave schemes. She said the combined durations of maternity, paternity and parent's leave and benefit now equate to 46 weeks' paid leave for a two-parent family.
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Trump's tariff threat reignites union push in Ireland's billion-euro pharma sector
As negotiations between the European Commission and the US conclude after almost 90 days of talks, an agreement has been deemed 'absolutely essential' to ensure a level of certainty for Irish exporters reliant on the US market. Among them is Ireland's mammoth pharmaceutical sector, a cornerstone of the national economy, which, since US President Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' announcement, has remained stuck in the cross-hairs of his global tariff onslaught. Ireland is one of the largest pharmaceutical exporters in the world due to the several large US firms operating here, with their earnings contributing significantly to the Exchequer's corporation tax receipts. While initially excluded from punitive measures, the booming industry now faces renewed scrutiny from Mr Trump, which, in his view, has flourished at America's expense. After calling out Ireland specifically for benefiting from US companies, Mr Trump last month said tariffs on pharmaceuticals would come 'very soon,' which would help bring multinationals back to America. Historically, Ireland's pharmaceutical sector has been defined by stable demand and high-paying salaries, particularly within the industry's epicentre in Cork, which hosts pharma giants Merck, AbbVie, Gilead Sciences, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, Thermo Fischer Scientific, Eli Lilly and GE Healthcare, among others. The concentration of these firms has made Ireland's southern region the wealthiest area in the European Union (EU), recording the largest GDP per capita in 2022, according to Eurostat. Despite this economic strength, collective bargaining in the sector has remained relatively limited. However, with rising uncertainty and looming tariff fears, momentum for unionisation is growing. 'We saw a sharp spike in union membership following Trump's 'Liberation Day' announcement,' says Siptu Manufacturing Divisional Organiser Neil McGowan. The trade union currently counts some 13,500 members from the pharmaceutical industry, the majority of whom are based in Cork. 'There's a lot of uncertainty in the air at the moment. I think Liberation Day made a lot of workers sit up and think, 'Are we really ready for what could happen?' Mr McGowan told the Irish Examiner. However, unionisation efforts have presented mixed results, he said, with some companies refusing to recognise or interact with Siptu when addressing worker disputes. 'It can be incredibly frustrating at times. We have members who want us there, who want to bargain collectively, and their company refuses to acknowledge us,' Mr McGowan said. But the fight doesn't stop there. Last month, trade union members at the Kinsale branch of US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly welcomed a Labour Court recommendation urging their employer to allow for collective representation by Siptu during workplace disputes. Union members at the Kinsale branch of US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly welcomed a Labour Court recommendation urging their employer to allow for collective representation by Siptu during workplace disputes. '[Eli] Lilly staff are on a journey for recognition, but senior management doesn't want to acknowledge us,' says Siptu sector organiser, Andrea Cleere. 'It has been denying our members the right to be supported by the union in individual workplaces, which is contrary Workplace Relations Commission's Code of Practice." But as Ms Cleere points out, Labour Court findings are reliant on the company choosing to acknowledge them. 'This is the problem with Ireland's weak voluntarist model of industrial relations. 'It allows companies to flout the Labour Court whenever it sides with workers seeking their basic human right to bargain collectively.' In May, workers at the Cork branch of pharmaceutical giant AbbVie served a notice of industrial action after the company refused to engage with employees' chosen trade union. Ms Cleere says AbbVie opted not to acknowledge the union despite workers securing two Labour Court recommendations urging the employer to recognise Siptu for collective bargaining purposes. "Numerous attempts to resolve issues of pay and union recognition through negotiations were refused by management,' Ms Cleere told the Irish Examiner. 'Companies simply don't need to do anything, meaning circumstances are always stacked against the worker.' 'Employee rights can be so easily forgotten. We pump money into big firms through the IDA or Enterprise Ireland without any requirement that they take care of their workers.' An AbbVie pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Sligo. In May, workers at the Cork branch of pharmaceutical giant AbbVie served a notice of industrial action after the company refused to engage with employees' chosen trade union. In a statement to the Irish Examiner, Eli Lilly said: "Lilly does not comment on specific employee relations matters. "Our direct employee engagement model promotes open communication and teamwork, creating an inclusive work environment where all voices are heard. We prioritise transparency and mutual respect, empowering our employees to contribute to our mission." AbbVie did not respond when contacted for comment. While layoffs in the pharmaceutical sector remain unlikely, Mr McGowan says worker concerns extend far beyond just job cuts. 'Pay is always a significant issue, but more than anything, people just want to have their say. Oftentimes, large multinationals operating in Ireland have decisions made by their foreign headquarters, which can be very frustrating for those here on the ground. 'Irish pharma remains particularly exposed to Trump's tariff threats, as do these workers. They deserve to have a voice.' But as the organiser notes, sometimes not having a union recognised is the least of their concerns. 'Union-busting is extremely prevalent in the pharmaceutical industry and happens on nearly every site. 'We have outside meetings where members fear being followed by senior management. We've heard cases of staff being guilt-tripped and being made to feel like they're damaging the company's reputation. 'Life at work can be made very difficult for union members. From bogus disciplinary measures to exclusion, people often pay the price for being part of a union. We've even seen cases of people being paid off by their company for taking part in union activity.' At around 35%, trade union coverage in Ireland is notably weak in a European context, falling far below the EU average of around 60%. Despite implementing an EU Directive last year requiring an action plan to raise coverage to over 80%, Ms Cleere says the Government has done the 'bare minimum' to increase the strength of trade unions. The EU Directive of Adequate Minimum Wages calls on the governments of EU Member States to draw up an action plan to increase collective bargaining coverage in their economies to over 80%. Countries below the mandated 80% figure will be asked to provide a framework to further enable conditions for collective bargaining as well as establish an action plan to promote collective bargaining and increase coverage rates. Although the directive does not set a specific deadline for the adoption of the action plan, the European Commission has urged member states with a collective bargaining coverage below 80% to establish them by the end of 2025 'at the latest'. Approached by the Irish Examiner, a spokesperson for the Department of Enterprise said the Government was committed to publishing the action plan by the end of 2025. 'A public consultation on the possible content of the action plan was held by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment recently.' 'The outcome of the consultation process will help guide the Department in finalising the proposals, both legislative and administrative, which may be considered for inclusion in the action plan,' the spokesperson concluded. But as Ms Cleere argues, bold measures are needed to bring Ireland's coverage rate to the EU requirement. 'If the Government is serious about increasing coverage, companies need to be penalised if they refuse to recognise unions.' 'We've seen time and time again that unionised companies are more productive than their non-unionised counterparts. 'It is in the pharma industry's best interest to do this, it's just a shame it can't see that on its own.'
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Antiques: Nine American gold eagle $10 coins make €10,000 in Dublin
ALL that glitters is not gold is an aphorism that collectors need to be aware of always, especially now. In these uncertain times, there is nothing remotely uncertain about the strong demand for a precious metal that is a long-term hedge against inflation and falling values. Always a safe haven for money in a stormy climate gold — headed by a group of nine American gold eagle ten-dollar 'Indian Head' coins from 1926 — made up no fewer than eight of the top 10 lots at the James Adam Jewellery Box sale in Dublin on June 24. They were the top lot of the auction and made €10,000 at hammer. A collection of 26 gold half-sovereigns made €7,500, a group of 12 gold sovereigns made €6,500, 23 Victorian half-sovereigns made €6,000 and other gold coins in the top 10 made hammer prices of €6,000, €5,500 and €5,000. Where all that leaves everything else on the auction market in Ireland right now is an open question. All sorts of collectibles are selling well, Irish art continues to be a mainstay, demand for antique furniture remains pretty much in the doldrums and demand across the board can best be described as variable. A 1913 centrepiece by West and Son with Celtic Revival detailing at Sheppards. House sales are always a draw. Sheppard's will offer contents from a classic Victorian house at 6 Royal Terrace in the leafy suburbs of Dun Laoghaire on July 15 and 16. There will be much interest in the collection of lawyer Philip Murphy, a partner at McCann FitzGerald, who died last year. His father, JT Murphy, served as a Labour Party TD for West Cork from 1923 until his sudden death in 1949, at which point he had been Minister for Local Government in the John A Costello government. Philip Murphy and his late wife Constance were collectors of everything from Killarney ware and antique clocks to silver, Arts and Crafts carpets and oriental art. Among the prime lots in the sale are: an 18th-century Irish ebonised bracket clock by Graydon, Dublin (€4,000-€6,000), a Donegal runner by CFA Voysey (€3,000-€6,000), a Guangxu lime-glazed bowl (€3,000-€6,000), a pair of Ottoman flintlock pistols (€2,000-€3,000), a West and Son Irish silver Celtic Revival centrepiece from 1913 (€2,000-€3,000), a Killarney games box (€1,400-€1,800), two Killarney writing boxes and a Killarney ware box, each estimated at €800-€1,200, and a 19th-century marine chronometer by Thomas Roberts, Liverpool (€4,000-€6,000). Art by Mark O'Neill, Graham Knuttel, Markey Robinson, Louis le Brocquy and John Butler Yeats will feature at Aidan Foley's auction at 6pm on July 7 and 8. This is a sale of art, antique furniture, garden statuary and collectibles, offering everything from a Georgian oak coffer and a Killarney wood trinket box to Victorian games, tea and dining tables and Oriental rugs and runners. A Warming Glow by Mark O'Neill at Aidan Foley's auction. A double-weight Vienna wall clock in walnut is estimated at just €200-€400, as is an 18th-century oval dropleaf dining table and a Victorian parquetry inlaid side table. Tribal art is always of interest, and a large carved African mask is estimated at just €60-€100. Choices range from a coromandel wood games box ((€60-€80) and a vintage Babycham dish for nibbles (€40-€80) to a pair of large blue and white platters (€200-€300) and a Tiffany style table lamp (€200-€250). The auction is on view in Doneraile on July 5, 6 and 7. Should you decide to go in search of gold, you will find it at the Matthews sale in Kells on Sunday and Monday. Lot 538 is a US Liberty double eagle 1903 gold 20-dollar coin (€1,500-€2,500). A selection of the jewellery on offer at Matthews in Kells. A Queen Elizabeth II gold sovereign is estimated at €400-€700, and a 1905 half-sovereign is estimated at €200-€300. The top lot is an art deco diamond-link bracelet mounted in platinum (€20,000-€30,000), and the sale offers a wide selection of desirable pieces. Read More Online sales of affordable art reflect current global trends
