Eamon Ryan slammed for "ridiculous" remarks on free public transport

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan argued against making public transport free in a recent comment to People Before Profit's Brid Smith.

The Green Party leader asserted that free fares would cause an "increased level of unnecessary trips," and would require an additional €540m minimum in Exchequer funding annually.

Independent Councillor for Ballymun-Finglas Noeleen Reilly recently responded to the claims, saying "couldn’t disagree more."

"I’m not sure if Minister Ryan uses public transport but no one is getting a bus or going on the Luas unless they have to," she said in response to the claim that unnecessary trips would increase.

"We need to encourage people out of cars and onto Public Transport," said Reilly, who is chair of Dublin City Councils Traffic and Transport SPC. "And we need to do that through a number of measures one of which is Free Public Transport."

"I’m surprised at Minister Ryan’s comments given the success of Free or Reduced cost public transport across Europe and also varies from the position of Councillors within his own party."