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File photo. Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Just under €500k was collected in fare evasion fines on public transport during the pandemic

Capacity on public transport services was greatly reduced after the arrival of Covid-19.

ALMOST HALF A million euro has been paid in fare evasion fines on public transport since the arrival of Covid-19 in Ireland, even as capacity on such services was vastly reduced.

Since the start of the pandemic to 29 September, both Irish Rail and the company which operates the Luas have collected over €200,000 in fare evasion fines. 

However, in the same time period, Dublin Bus collected just €500 from standard fare notices as it ceased its Revenue Protection Unit on 14 March. 

As part of the restrictions introduced by the government at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, public transport capacity was severely curtailed to accommodate social distancing and other public health measures.

From late March, public transport began to operate timetables varying from 45% to 80% of normal capacity. This was later reduced to 25% of normal capacity.

Under the current Level 5 restrictions, public transport is again at 25% of normal capacity.

The figures were released to Social Democrat co-leader Catherine Murphy via parliamentary question.

On Irish Rail services, €259,824 was collected in fare evasion fines from 1 March to 29 September. 

A fine of €100 is payable plus unpaid fare for those found to be travelling without a valid ticket on Irish Rail services. If this fine is not paid, you can face a fine of up to €1,000 upon conviction in the District Court.

On Luas services, payments in connection with Standard Fare Notices issued over the same period amounted to €231,300.

Under this system, those found to be travelling without a ticket are issued with a standard fare notice. If they pay it within 14 days, then a reduced rate of €45 applies. However, it will cost €100 if it’s paid after that and must be paid within 28 days or a person will risk a court summons.

On Dublin Bus services, nine standard fare notices were issued between 1 March and 29 September. Eight fines were paid at a rate of €50 and one was paid a rate of €100. 

In a statement, a Dublin Bus spokesperson said: “Dublin Bus operates a fleet of 1,000 buses and carried 142 million customers last year. Given the size and scale of our operations, fare evasion on services is quite low. 

“Due to capacity restrictions on board, and health and safety measures in place to keep our customers and employees safe during Covid-19, the Dublin Bus Revenue Protection Unit ceased operation on 14 March this year. The figure of €500 was the standard fare amount paid for March 2020 only.”

In the first three months of last year, Dublin Bus collected €3,980 in fare evasion fines compared to €2,725 this year. 

A spokesperson for Transdev – which operates the Luas – said: “The revenue collected from standard fare notices by Luas has been impacted by Covid-19. Since restrictions on public transport commenced in February 2020 the number of passengers traveling by tram has fallen substantially. 

“Currently trams are operating at less than 25% capacity in accordance with level 5 guidelines. Naturally, the revenue collected from standard fares has fallen as a result.”

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    Mute mamaise
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    Aug 25th 2014, 11:19 AM

    Pharma cliff?? a friend of mine has to take tablets following an operation for the rest of his life, they cost €190 per month, he found them in Spain for €10, and of course his medical card was revoked. So now himself & the wife go to Spain twice a year to SAVE money! The Irish people are just sick of getting robbed by their own government.

    Get rid of the pension levy that was unfairly applied to one section of tge work force & reduce the USC or petrol costs next, give people a chance to get back up on their feet again

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Aug 25th 2014, 11:34 PM

    Amen.
    Ulster Bank (the UK’s very own Irish Nationwide) are only trying to talk up their Celtic Tiger Ponzi Scheme loanbook, just so that they can try and hawk the whole bank to some halfwit hedge fund.

    4
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    Mute John Coady
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    Aug 25th 2014, 11:46 AM

    I love when these so called experts make these fascinating predictions cause when they get it horrible wrong it makes them look great!!! They know and i know economics does not work!!! Its all on credit nd nobody gives two sh***!!!!

    36
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    Mute Taxi Bill
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    Aug 25th 2014, 11:16 AM

    We are f****d so!

    34
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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Aug 25th 2014, 11:44 AM

    For most of the last century this would be called healthy growth for a western economy.

    In the dystopian Euro zone it is however a boom, growth of any kind is such a distant memory for people in the Eurozone and EU that some even talk about this being a return to Celtic Tiger growth.

    For most of Europe 3% growth will not return for many years to come.

    Stagnation and decline are the legacy of the Euro.

    28
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    Mute Chris Mansfield
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    Aug 25th 2014, 11:54 AM

    While Eurozone monetary policy isn’t helping I feel that people are underestimating the effect of demographic change on Eurozone growth.

    For most of the last century, European countries had expanding workforces and an expanding population. Few have that nowadays and some are even shrinking. That makes a comparison with growth rates in other parts of the world impractical.

    In fact, most of Europe has seen anaemic growth for 30 years or so, long before the Euro came into existence.

    Unfortunately, it takes 30 years to solve a birthrate problem, even if you can figure out how to do it.

    19
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    Mute Ahippo
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    Aug 25th 2014, 2:03 PM

    A far more cogent explanation than that of Seanie FFryan

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    Mute Ryan Ash
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    Aug 25th 2014, 6:59 PM

    And Ireland, with the youngest population in Europe, in well placed compared to greying Germany and France – among others.

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    Mute Alan O'connor
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    Aug 25th 2014, 11:48 AM

    And the complainers and whingers are out of the blocks quickly. Have to stifle any good feeling. How will the Sinners be elected otherwise?

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    Mute Sam Bartell
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    Aug 25th 2014, 12:14 PM

    And to whose standards are you comparing these alleged “sinners”? God, budda, allah, the ever mystical purple sky monkey?

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Aug 25th 2014, 12:23 PM

    Alan yet you are nearly always one of the first to whinge about whingers,amazing isn’t it.

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Aug 25th 2014, 12:24 PM

    “Sinners” surely you meant “shinners” they are the group you’re obsessed with.

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    Mute Griska
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    Aug 25th 2014, 12:33 PM

    There’s an article on this site about increasing numbers of children going to school hungry.
    So I’m not buying any of this sh!t.

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Aug 25th 2014, 12:56 PM

    The state if the economy has no bearing on whether or not parents get their act together and feed their kids.

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Aug 25th 2014, 12:56 PM

    *of

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    Mute Griska
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    Aug 25th 2014, 3:07 PM

    Really? You don’t link disadvantage to hunger?
    Do you think teachers in prosperous areas are bringing breakfast in for their pupils?

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    Mute Ahippo
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    Aug 25th 2014, 11:25 AM

    Seeing as how we have such a terrible government I wonder who should get the credit for this – I know Sinn Fail and Fianna Fein. Let’s vote them into power at the election !

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    Mute Alan O'connor
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    Aug 25th 2014, 3:54 PM

    Yes I meant Shinners. And while not obsessed I certainly don’t want them anywhere near power in the country I live in. Which is why any economic good news is always welcome as it undermines their constant negativity in pursuit of votes.

    Thanks for playing.

    4
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