Public transport should be free in Dublin to “get people out of cars,” according to People Before Profit.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Ballymun-Finglas Councillor Conor Reddy said it would cost just €540 million a year to make public transport free across Ireland.

Luxembourg made history in 2020 when the EU country became the first in the world to scrap all public transport fees - and many cities across Europe have introduced similar policies.

Emissions

On Newstalk Breakfast, Cllr Reddy said a similar approach in Ireland would be effective at curbing emissions.

“It would cost €540 million, but I think it’s a great way of getting people out of cars, onto buses, rail and other types of public transport," he said.

“We have to look at our approach to climate action and so far, I think the Green Party and the current Government – although they have made some progress – have been all stick and no carrot.

“I think you have to bring people with you on this and around 50 cities in the world already have free public transport, it’s done in other European cities.”

Heavy traffic on the Quays in Dublin. Credit: Douglas O'Connor / Alamy Stock Photo

The PBP councillor said the cost of making public transport free could rise to €750 million if private providers are used.

“€750 million is a small price to pay when you consider congestion in Dublin city is projected to cost about €2 billion by 2040,” he said.

“So, if you're getting cars off the road and removing congestion from the heart of the city centre, would it not be better? What are the other economic benefits?”

Alternative budget

Cllr Reddy said “the books balance” on the idea, which is included in PBP’s alternative budget.

“We'd also invest money in expanding public transport services,” he said.

“It would cost about €340 million to get another 500 electric buses into Dublin city.

“We know that because of cuts made under the Green and Fianna Fáil government about a decade ago, buses have only just recovered to the level that they were at in 2009.

“It's only just in the last year or two we have the same number of buses on the road, despite a massive increase in the population.”

Tax increase

Cllr Reddy said he would be in favour of increasing taxes on the rich to fund such projects.

“There is a small section of Irish society that has a lot of wealth,” he said.

“The top 1% in Ireland own a third of all wealth in the country.

“It's about targeting that concentrated wealth, that inequality that's soared over the last decade.”

Dublin was found to be the second slowest city in the world for drivers earlier this year.