Public transport fees will continue to be frozen for another year in response to the continued cost of living crisis.
SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has welcomed the move, but expressed his disappointment that Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd has extended this provision despite rejecting his recent proposal to relax existing timeframes around Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) in a bid to ease the financial pressures facing people as household bills soar.
Mr Durkan had proposed extending the timeframe in which individuals can benefit from a 50% parking fine reduction from 14 days to six weeks.
The Foyle MLA commented: “The decision to continue freezing public transport fees for another year is welcome news and will undoubtedly provide some relief to all those who avail of these services. Minister O’Dowd’s predecessor Nichola Mallon first introduced the freeze in February of this year in response to the costs crisis.
“Given that Minister O’Dowd has chosen to act on public transport fees, it’s difficult to fathom why he rejected my proposal to extend the time period in which people can avail of a reduced parking fine rate. Currently, motorists fined for parking contraventions are given 28 days to pay a £90 penalty. However, if paid within the first two-weeks individuals can benefit from a reduced rate of £45. Those exceeding the 28-day window must pay an increased charge of £135.
“For families desperately struggling to put food on the table with payday over two weeks away, there is no way they could afford to pay within the fortnight window. It’s clear this policy penalises the poor, yet the Minister refused to act and I wish he would have considered additional measures to protect people alongside this announcement on fare freezes.”
