youth travel card ireland

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Discounted public transport fares for 19 to 23 year olds with new youth travel card

A New Youth Travel Card will offer a 50% discount to those aged between 19 and 23 across the transport network.

Minister Michael McGrath confirmed that young people can use public transport with a 50% discount on fares.

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Under the scheme, those in the age group will be eligible for half-priced fares on intercity buses and trains, long distance buses, local buses, the Luas and the Dart .

Currently, student discounts are up to 30% cheaper than adult fares. However, today’s announcement means that the discount will be bumped up to 50% from next year. Child rates currently cover children up to the age of 18.

In the Dail, Minister McGrath said transport will be a key part of the National Development Plan.

‘Over 1.4 billion euro will be provided to further develop our public transport networks and to support the transition to a decarbonised and climate-resilient transport system,” he added.

‘In order to promote modal shift in the transport sector, I am providing 25 million euro for the introduction of a Youth Travel Card.

‘This card will be available to any person between the ages of 19 and 23 and will allow them to avail of a 50% discount on fares across the transport network.’

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Child 16-18

Child Leap Card 16-18 can be used to pay for travel by anyone who is 16 to 18 years old, up to their 19th birthday. The user’s name and photograph is printed on it. These cards can only be purchased online.

You can follow the link here to commence your application

Or, if you’ve already applied for your card, you can check on the order status, here

Before applying for a Child 16-18 Leap Card make sure you have:

• A valid Passport, Drivers Licence or Learner Permit, other non-standard documents may be accepted, view the full list here
• Enabled your camera permissions
• The card applicant is present
• You have payment card details ready

A live selfie is required during the application process to validate the applicant’s likeness against the ID document. This will be the photo used on the card.

Once the application is verified we’ll send your card by post, usually within 5 working days.

Child Leap Card users benefit from a range of discounted child fares. Find out how much you can save!

Please note, if you are a Student (aged 16-18), in third level education and you mainly use participating commercial bus operators , you may get better value with a Student Leap Card.

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How to apply for a Young Adult Leap Card and get 50% off public transport fares

Public transport fares for young people in Ireland have been permanently reduced by 50 per cent - here's what you need to do to avail of the discount

• 15:26, 10 MAY 2022

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Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and the National Transport Authority this week launched the 50 per cent public transport fare reduction for young people.

The new fare structure, which came into effect on Monday, applies to all subsidised public transport journeys on Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland and TFI Local Link.

Here's what you need to know about the new low fares and how you can apply for a Leap Card to avail of the discount.

In a nutshell

All adults aged 19 to 23 are eligible for the half-price fares. Eligibility continues up to the day before their 24th birthday.

The new reductions mean that young people in Ireland will only have to pay 65c for a short journey on public transport. Meanwhile, the TFI 90-minute journeys, which was introduced last year for those travelling in and around Dublin and transferring between services, will only cost €1.

When the additional 20 per cent fare reduction on all public transport announced as part of the government’s cost of living supports last February is applied, this means that public transport costs for young adults will actually be 60 per cent cheaper until the end of this year.

How do I apply for a Young Adult Leap Card?

For holders of a current Student Leap Card, no action is required. They simply pay for their journey by Leap, and the reduced fare is deducted from their card in the normal way. The Student Leap Card remains available to students in full-time education (16 hours a week or more) who are 24 years old and above.

However, non-student young adults looking to avail of the lower fares will need to apply for a Young Adult Leap Card for use when travelling.

The facility to apply for the Card is done online and can be accessed here . You will need to upload proof of your age via a valid Passport, EU National ID, Drivers Licence or Learner Permit, and take a live selfie when ordering the card online.

The cards are all produced in Ireland, and fulfilment will be completed promptly, with cards being delivered by post to the customers. Once the customer has received the Young Adult Card, they can use it on all relevant public transport services. The earliest you can apply for a Young Adult card is two weeks before your 19th birthday.

Customers aged under 19 already benefit from the Child 16-18 Leap Card, which is valid up to the day before their 19th birthday.

What services does the 50 per cent discount rate apply to?

The 50 per cent fare reductions apply to single journeys on the following services:

- Bus Éireann (excluding Expressway) - Participating TFI Local Link services - Go-Ahead Ireland - Luas - DART - Commuter Rail - Kilkenny City bus - Route 139 - Route 197 - Route 817

What has been said?

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said: “When I announced a permanent 50 per cent fare reduction for young adults in Budget 2022, I really wanted to make public transport more attractive for young people, so that using public transport could become a habit of a lifetime.

“I also wanted to go some way to supporting young people, by making day-to-day life a little bit more affordable.

“This fare cut is unprecedented and quite radical. But I believe strongly that it’s the way we need to go if we are serious about putting low-carbon transport at the heart of our efforts to build a sustainable future and if we want to bring people, and particularly young people, with us on that journey.”

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Young Adult Leap Card extended to 25-year-olds, but no extra cuts to public transport fares

PEOPLE UNDER THE age of 26 will now be eligible for reduced public transport fares, under measures announced this afternoon.

The measures were announced in the Dáil this afternoon by Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe as part of Budget 2024.

Previously, the Young Adult Leap Card was only available for people up to the age of 23. The card entitles young people to 50% off public transport fees.

This has now been extended to 23- and 24-year-olds.

As well as this, a 20% reduction in public transport fares – first announced in June 2022, and extended in last year’s Budget – will be further extended until the end of next year.

However, no further cuts to fares have been announced. 

In total, Donohoe said that €3.5 billion had been allocated to the Department of Transport for Budget 2024. This equates to €892 million in current and €2.7 billion in capital funding.

Of this, €1.2 billion will go maintaining and investing in the road system. With a total of €937 million going towards renewal and protection of the system, and €200 million going towards the development of new roads projects.

Additional transport measures

There will be a number of other measures, initiatives and investments supported by this funding. Among other measures, these include:

• €360 million for walking and cycling infrastructure projects through the Active Travel and Greenways Programmes
• The purchase of 70 new double-deck electric buses for Dublin, along with 101 additional buses for Cork, Galway and Limerick
• The protection and renewal of the heavy rail network as well as bus/rail fleet renewals and station upgrades
• The implementation of BusConnects Dublin
• The movement to the next phase of the Metrolink
• €21 million ringfenced for road safety

Commenting on the Budget today, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said that the reduced fares for younger people now made Ireland “one of the most cost effective countries in Europe to travel as a young person”.

“We have also secured a commitment to review transport fares for under 18s and my ambition is that we can move towards zero cost travel for children and teenagers in 2025,” he said.

You can find full details of today’s Budget announcement in our roundup  here .  

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Youth Travel Card

This card makes public transport sustainable and affordable for young people in Ireland, and is the first time a proposal from Dáil na nÓg (National Youth Parliament) and Comhairle na nÓg (Local Youth Councils) has been included in the Government's National Budget.

COST IS A BARRIER TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT

In 2019, Comhairle na nÓg (Local Youth Councils) delegates identified affordability as a barrier that young people face in using public transport, a factor that discourages them from engaging in community and civic life (especially in rural Ireland). To address this problem, Comhairle na nÓg voted at the Dáil na nÓg (National Youth Parliament) to promote sustainable transport, and the initiative was progressed with help and expert guidance by Minister Roderic O'Gorman over two years.

HALVING THE COST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

In July 2021, Comhairle na nÓg proposed a Youth Travel Card for the 2022 Irish Government's National Budget, including a 50% discount on all public transport systems for young people under the age of 23. The proposal was accepted, and was later included by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the October 2022 National Budget announcement. The Youth Travel Card initiative is now active, and has been recognised as a key achievement in the inclusion of voices of youth in public policymaking.

YOUNG PEOPLE INFLUENCE POLICY

The project's impact on the National Budget sets a precedent for young people to influence political decision-making processes through active participation. The project also encourages the Government to listen to children and young people, and to take their views into account in a meaningful way. By improving young people's access to public, civic, and community spaces, Minister O'Gorman continues to carry forth the work of Comhairle na nÓg, Dáil na nÓg, Seanad na nÓg (National Youth Assembly of Ireland), and other participation structures under the umbrella of the National Participation Office.

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00:00-07:00

New youth public transport cards will not be available until next year - Ryan

19.37 12 Oct 2021

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The new discount fares for young people on public transport will not be available until the new year, the Transport Minister has told The Hard Shoulder .

People aged between 19 and 23-years-old are to get a 50% discount on public transport under new measures announced as part of Budget 2022 today .

A total of €25m was set aside for the new youth travel cards – alongside a €1.4bn package for upgrades to the public transport system.

Minister Ryan told Newstalk that the new cards will take time to roll out.

“It will take a few months,” he said. “We have to change the system so it can verify on the basis of age.

“In terms of the international challenge, even getting the chips for the Leap Cards, at the moment there is a semi-conductor shortage. Everything is taking several months and the supply lines internationally are tight.

“So, I am told it will take a number of months into the new year. It will take a number of months for the transport agencies to upgrade all their systems – but it is coming for sure.”

Habit for life

He said the plan will help strengthen young people’s connection with public transport.

“I think it will be a significant benefit as we come out of COVID,” he said. “It is a signal saying let’s get back to public transport.”

“It is for young workers and students. It is for anyone under 24 going to work and, from my perspective, we want to create the habit of a lifetime.

“It is towards active travel and public transport and a 50% reduction in fares is, to my mind, the right sort of incentive.”

Budget 2022

In total, the Department of Transport was allocated €3.4bn in the budget with €1.8bn set aside for “cleaner, greener transport.”

The investment will support a number of new public transport projects including:

• 165 new electric buses in towns and cities across the country
• 24 new hybrid buses in urban areas
• 81 new buses in regional and rural areas
• A new fully electric town bus service for Athlone

Minister Ryan said increases to Vehicle Registration Tax due to come into force next year will not apply to electric cars.

“The increase will apply to the higher emitting cars in the top four brackets so there will continue to be a VRT exemption for electric cars for the next two years and there will continue to be a grant for people purchasing electric cars,” he said.

“That is a significant incentive. Also, the basic truth is electric cars are better vehicles. The fuel cost is fraction, the maintenance cost is a fraction and for anyone starting to drive them they are simply better cars.

“So, they come with a certainty that is not going to be reversed.”

He suggested that the number of electric cars that are now in the market mean electric cars are becoming affordable – when the grants and running costs are taken into consideration.”

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Young Adult & Student Card

Commercial bus services – young adult and student card.

On 09 May 2022, the Minister of Transport Eamon Ryan and the National Transport Authority launched the 50% public transport fare reduction for young adults aged 19-25 years old inclusive and mature students.

Commercial Bus Operators who hold a public bus passenger service licence may opt into the Fares Scheme that has been established to enable them to offer the discount. Participation in the Fares Scheme is voluntary.

You do not have to be a participant in the Authority’s Integrated Ticketing System (Leap Card) to be able to offer the discount.

If you are interested in joining the Fares Scheme, please email: [email protected] for further information.

The list of current commercial bus routes that offer the Young Adult and Student Card discount is available for download here .

The details in this file are correct as of 16 November 2022.

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What is a Young Adult Card?

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Join over 7 million young Europeans and enjoy thousands of discounts in over 30 countries across Europe.

See All Discounts

Your European Youth Card gives you access to thousands of discounts on different categories such as travel, accommodation, culture, education, products and services in over 30 countries. Check them out here!

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The Card in Your Country

From Scotland to Georgia and from Finland to Cyprus, the Youth Card is available in over 30 countries across Europe. Discover the card in your country!

Get The Card

If the card is not available in your country but you’d really like to have it, you’ve come to the right place. Order your card here!

The Card for ESC Participants

Are you a European Solidarity Corps participant? We have a special card just for you. Click here for more information on the ESC participant European Youth Card.

About The Card

The European Youth Card is all about giving you the opportunity to do more so you can reach your full potential and achieve your dreams.

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DiscoverEU: Your European Adventure Awaits

Travel more. be more..

Life’s too short to stay at home. Your card makes travelling a whole lot easier and more affordable with thousands of discounts on accommodation and transport across Europe. Don’t hold back. Go out and meet the world!

Youth under 30 years

International youth travel card, no longer a student the iytc card carries many of the same benefits and discounts as the isic card and is a valuable tool particularly if you are travelling abroad..

Why get the IYTC card

Cheap flight tickets, cheap travel, acommodation, isic mobile app, biggest youth discount network in the world.

Join milions of young people who already have a valid IYTC card!

Card eligibility, who is eligible for iytc card.

The International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) is available to individuals aged 30 years or younger, who are not fulltime students.

To get an IYTC you must be able to prove your age with official identity card issued in your country of residence, passport or birth certificate. You will also need a recent passport sized photograph of yourself.

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50% Discount for Young Adult and Student Leap Card holders on Commercial Bus Operators

A range of transport operators give discounts of 50% to Young Adult (19-25) and Student Leap Card holders. You need to have a Young Adult (19-25) or Student Leap Card to avail of the discount.

How to Get your Young Adult (19-25) or Student Discount?

Once you buy your card at www.Leapcard.ie there are a few different ways to avail of the discount depending on the operator that you are using:

• Some operators are using the TFI Go App. You can download this App free in the Apple App store or Google Play store . To get the 50% discount you need to have a Young Adult (19-25) or Student Leap Card to prove to the driver that you are eligible.
• Some operators allow you to use Travel Credit on your Young Adult (19-25) or Student Leap Card.
• Some operators are selling discounted tickets online, but please remember you need to have a Young Adult (19-25) or Student Leap Card with you when travelling to prove to the driver/ticket inspector that you are eligible.

Which Commercial Bus Operators offer the Discount?

Commercial bus operators that currently offer the Young Adult and Student Card discount include:

• Ardcavan Coach Tours Limited (TFI GO App only)
• Bailieboro Call a Cab Ltd  (TFI GO App only)
• Barrett’s of Mayo   (TFI GO App only)
• Bus Feda Teoranta  (Online only)
• Carolan Coaches  ( Carolan Coach Hire)  (TFI GO App only)
• Carrolls Coaches Ltd (TFI GO App only)
• City Direct (TFI GO App only)
• CityLink (Leap and Online only)
• Collins Coaches Ltd (Leap only)
• Doherty’s Travel (TFI GO App only)
• Dublin Coach  (Leap and Online only)
• Dublin Express (TFI GO App only)
• Expressway  (Online only)
• GoBus (Online only)
• Gorey Bus Links   (TFI GO App only)
• Halpenny Transport Ltd. (TFI GO App only)
• Harrington’s (TFI GO App only)
• Healy Bus  (TFI GO App only)
• J.J. Kavanagh & Sons Ltd  (Leap and Online only)
• Kearns Transport  (TFI GO App only)
• Kelly Travel  (TFI GO App only)
• Mangan Tours (Mangan Travel Limited)  (TFI GO App only)
• Martley’s  (TFI GO App only) Matthews Coaches   (Leap only) Michael Moran (TFI GO App only)
• McConnon Travel Limited  (TFI GO App only)
• N olan Coaches Bus Hire Dublin (TFI GO App only)
• Piltown Coaches  (TFI GO App only)
• Sillan Tours Ltd (TFI GO App only)
• Streamline   (TFI GO App only) Treacy Coaches (TFI GO App only)
• Wexford Bus (Leap and Online only)
• Last Passive T/A Aircoach (Online only)
• Bray Institute of Further Education (TFI Go App only)
• Burke Bros. Coaches Ltd (Online only)
• McGinley Coach Travel Limited (Online only)
• Patrick Gallagher (Churchill) Ltd (TFI Go App only)
• Royal Breffni Tours Ltd (TFI Go App only)

NB: You MUST have a valid Young Adult or Student Leap Card to avail of the TFI Go fares on Commercial Bus Operators. 

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Are you 18 years old and a resident of one of the eu member states or third countries associated to erasmus+ get ready to explore europe , what is discovereu.

DiscoverEU is an action of the Erasmus+ programme that offers you the opportunity to explore Europe’s diversity, learn about its cultural heritage and history, and connect with people from all over the continent.  

You will be offered a travel pass and travel predominantly by rail. Check out the rules for people living on islands or in remote areas.

As a selected traveller, you will receive a DiscoverEU European Youth Card for a wealth of discounts on cultural visits, learning activities, sports, local transportation, accommodation, and food.

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