Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 October 2014
206. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider expanding the use of the Leap card as a means of payment for small transactions in private businesses, as is the practice in a number of other countries with integrated ticketing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37503/14]
View answer207. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is possible to integrate the Leap card with the public transport systems in other European cities, in particular London and Edinburgh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37504/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 207 together.
Responsibility to develop, procure, implement, operate and maintain the Leap Card system is a function of the National Transport Authority (NTA).
I understand, however, that the NTA is considering a number of additional functions for the Leap card Scheme including using the electronic purse for non-transit purchases. However, to move into low value retail outside of direct public transport provision requires a significant change in the structures and governance of the Scheme to comply with the EU Directive on Electronic Money Issuance. The NTA, or a partner organisation, would be required to become an “Electronic Money Issuer” and establishing this would incur significant costs. The benefits of making the necessary changes are not considered sufficient at the present time to offset the costs of doing so. Additionally, the cardholder would most likely incur a commission charge when using the Leap electronic funds for such payments. There are very few other transit card schemes in the EU that support this functionality, it is more common in the Far East where different regulations apply.
With regard to integrating the scheme with systems in other European cities, I am informed by the NTA that the scheme in Ireland, like most of the other schemes in the EU, has developed a common card reader and card format that is unique to Ireland. Options being proposed for international interoperability are still in development and to date no over-arching standard has emerged as the dominant standard for Europe. At present, the EU includes a number of nationally supported smartcard ticketing schemes which are collaborating to seek to find ways to achieve cross border interoperability, however achieving consensus is some way off. The recent introduction of contactless bank card payment for public transport may in fact be the means by which interoperability is achieved in the future.
