To ask the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to AQW 39660/11-15, for his assessment of the impact that fare increases will have on consumers with disabilities who hold the Half Fare Smartpass.

Half-fare Smartpass holders will continue to pay half the price of the relevant adult bus single fare and half the price of the relevant adult rail single and day return fare.

As from 16 February 2015, fares will increase for all customers by an average of 5.3% for Metro, 4% for Ulsterbus and 4.5% for NI Railways. The value of the half fare concession will therefore increase proportionately.

Translink has been able to freeze fares on public transport services for over 18 months and since I became Minister in 2011, bus fares have increased by only 6% and rail fares by 8% whilst inflation over the same period was 14%. In other words fares have fallen significantly in real terms.

It is acknowledged that bus and rail fares in Northern Ireland are lower than and have risen by less than Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Indeed if I compare the fares since 2011 against fares in Northern Ireland, Great Britain has increased bus and rail fares by 19% and in the Republic of Ireland bus fares have increased by between 20 and 40% and the rail fares by 38%.