FARES FOR Luas, Dublin Bus and some toll road services increased yesterday, with Luas journeys rising by an average of 5.5 per cent.
Most cash fares on Dublin Bus have risen by 5 cent for children and 10 cent for adults.
An adult taking a 4-7 stage journey will now be charged €1.60, while a passenger under 16 years travelling more than seven stages must pay €1.
Luas fares have increased by an average of 5.5 per cent, the Railway Procurement Agency said.
The main changes are a 10-cent rise in single fares - except for short trips within one zone - and a 20-cent increase in return fares, with the exception of short trips within one zone, which have risen by 10 cent. There is no increase in child fares.
The cost of an adult seven-day ticket will go up by between 90 cent and €1.20, while a 30-day ticket is to increase by between €2.50 and €6.
Student seven-day tickets will increase by between 60 cent and €1.10, while the cost of a 30-day pass will rise by between €2.20 and €3.
Railway Procurement Agency chief executive Frank Allen said the fare increases were needed to cover the rising costs of running the Luas. "Luas will be five years old in 2009 and this increase will allow us to improve and maintain the quality of the service to our customers in the coming year and build a good foundation for the future," he said.
The cost of passing through toll plazas will rise by 10 cents for car drivers, with the exception of the M50 and the Port Tunnel, and new charges for haulage trucks have been introduced.