1,000,000 Leap Cards sold since launch, delivering 20% transport savings to users
More than 60% public transport journeys in Dublin now paid for with Leap
Minister for transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, today (Friday) congratulated the National Transport Authority and members of its Leap Card team for achieving a significant milestone – reaching the 1,000,000 point in Leap Card sales.
Since its launch 3 and a half years ago (December 2011), the Leap Card has become a staple in many people’s lives. They carry the card in their wallets or purses, using it to save 20% on public transport journeys as they go about their day – in Dublin, Galway, Cork and Limerick.
Of the million cards sold to date, some 600,000 are adult cards, a further 260,000 are student cards, 80,000 are child cards and 60,000 are visitor cards. In the Greater Dublin Area, some 60% of public transport journeys are now paid for using Leap; the scheme overall has reached monthly turnover of €15.4 million per month (March 2015) – or over €263 million since its launch.
Minister Donohoe said: “The fact that we are celebrating this significant milestone is testament to the work of the NTA and to the value for money offering that is available to the travelling public through the Leap card. As the scheme is further rolled-out across the coming years and as it is further developed to encourage greater use, these figures are set to grow and grow. Where it is in use, Irish commuters have really taken to the Leap, not just for the savings it gives them, which are substantial, but for the convenience it offers in banishing to the past the search for change for the bus or train. I am delighted to see success of this scale for the Leap card after a relatively short time and wish everyone in the NTA’s team every success with it into the future.”
Anne Graham, Chief Executive of the National Transport Authority said: “We are delighted with the strong progress the Leap Card has made since its launch. A million card sales means that hundreds of thousands of people are benefitting from lower cost transport, as they go to work, to school, or for their leisure activities. And it’s not just a Dublin scheme, the Leap Card is now accepted on Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann services in Cork and on Bus Éireann services in Galway and Limerick, with a roll-out to Waterford planned in the coming months. In addition, the strong take-up of the child card shows that, from a young age, people are integrating public transport use into their day-to-day lives. This factor, combined with ready access to up-to-the minute real-time transport information on smart-phone apps and on-street, means that people are now growing up in Ireland with more trust and confidence in the public transport system than ever.”
The National Transport Authority is celebrating this important milestone for the Leap Card by running competitions via social media channels and on radio over the coming weeks. Entrants will be given the opportunity to win Leap Cards, HP slate tablets, and a wide range of other goodies to encourage them to leap around Ireland.
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Press Office, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, 01 604 1090 / 01 604 1093 www.dttas.ie pressoffice@dttas.ie