Bus users will soon be able to use their contactless credit or debit card to pay fares. 

A pilot scheme offering contactless payments on buses is set to be rolled out before the end of the month, a spokesperson for Minister for Transport confirmed. 

“All going well, installation on the buses will be ready for the pilot to start by the end of May,” the spokesperson said. 

These pilot schemes are set to take place on some of the Public Service Obligation (PSO) services, including Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus. 

The testing on the pilot system will be carried out next week, including security tests. 

At present, bus users must either use a Leap Card or pay fares in cash. Dublin Bus only accepts coins, with no facility at all to use credit or debit cards to pay fares. 

Councillor Dermot Lacey said this change would encourage greater use of public transport.

"There have been times when I’ve gone to get a bus and I realised I didn’t have cash on me so I got a taxi or I walked because it was easier," he said. 

Digital payment options on public transport, which allow people to tap their phones, smartwatches or debit cards, are available in other countries.  

In London, contactless payments for tube services have been available since 2014. 

The National Transport Authority (NTA) announced plans to trial contactless payments in December 2022.  

The NTA are also seeking to improve other technology such as their Real Time Information systems at bus stops and online.  

At a Christmas briefing, Mr Ryan referred to the current IT system as “creaking” - but the NTA were committed to improving services in urban and rural areas.