To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail any assessment that has been made of the cost of creating a free bus travel scheme for young people, as exists in Scotland.

As part of the review of the Concessionary Fares Scheme in 2023, officials explored a number of options prior to launching the public consultation. These included the introduction of free travel for young people under the age of 24. While it was acknowledged that such a scheme could help reduce the financial burden of travel for young people, combat social isolation, and promote long-term sustainable travel habits, the proposal was not progressed further due to existing budgetary pressures on the concessionary fares programme. High level analysis indicates that such a proposal would cost a minimum of £21m p.a.

Translink currently offers free transport for children below 5 years old and half-fare transport concessions for young people aged 5-16 years. A range of commercially discounted products designed to encourage modal shift to public transport are also available such as the yLink card which currently offers a 50% discount on both bus and rail services throughout the North and on cross-border services for young people aged 16-23 years.

As of May 2026, it has been just under two years since bus fares last went up in the North.

I took the decision to freeze public transport fares in the context of continuing cost of living pressures and to provide certainty to passengers. With fuel prices remaining high, I did not believe it would be right to increase fares and place further pressure on households who rely on buses and trains every day, including young people

Keeping fares stable helps support people at a challenging time and ensures public transport remains an affordable option for all.

I will continue to engage with Translink as budgets are developed to manage financial pressures responsibly within the funding available.