Free public transport extended to children aged up to eight

Children aged five to eight will now be eligible for free travel on all Transport for Ireland (TFI) services, it has been announced.

From today, some 263,000 children nationwide can travel free with a TFI Leap Card, following confirmation from Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien and the National Transport Authority (NTA).

The scheme applies to all TFI public transport services, including Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Go-Ahead Ireland, Iarnród Éireann, and LUAS. Children under five already travel free, and this expansion ensures no child is charged for public transport until their ninth birthday.

Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith welcomed today’s announcement saying: “This is a really positive development for families in counties Cavan and Monaghan and right across the country. Providing free travel for children up to their ninth birthday eases the financial burden on households and makes public transport a far more attractive option for families.

Deputy Smith said it also delivers on a commitment in the Programme for Government to make transport more affordable, more accessible, and more sustainable.

He highlighted the broader benefits of the measure, “This initiative is about more than cost savings. It encourages the use of public transport from an early age, helping to build sustainable travel habits and reduce emissions.

“Families in both urban and rural areas will benefit, and I believe this will be warmly welcomed across Cavan and Monaghan.”

The Leap Card is available to all children up to their ninth birthday, and families can apply today at leapcard.ie