'Extend short hop zone for commuting students' - Senator

A call for students staying at home and commuting to college from mid- and south Kildare to be able to use their Leap cards on trains has been made by Senator Mark Wall, writes Brian Byrne.

Reporting instances of students in Newbridge and Monasterevin having to pay between €288-€400 a month for train tickets to Dublin, Senator Wall wants the 'short hop zone' to be extended as far as Portarlington for students. He said it would be a 'common sense approach' that would give students 'a dig out' when they have to commute because of the lack of student accommodation in Dublin.

"My office has been inundated with stories from students who are paying a phenomenal amount commuting to college," he says. "Many had plans to move out of home and into the city, but due to the dearth in student accommodation, they have to stay at home and take the train. Students and their families are under enough financial pressure this year without being forced to pay huge fees commuting."

He also called for delays in paying the first instalment of the SUSI grant to be addressed.

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