The price increase between different zonal tickets is unfair and disproportionate. I have listed the 24 hour zonal tickets below, alongside the price increase from one zone to the next.
€ 9.10 - Dublin Red Zone 24 hour
(+ €2)
€11.10 - Dublin Green Zone 24 hour
(+ €7.20)
€18.30 - Dublin Blue Zone 24 hour
(+ €2.60)
€20.90 - Dublin Yellow Zone 24 hour
(+ €0.80)
€21.70 - Dublin Orange Zone 24 hour
The Blue Zone is the main issue. I understand cheaper commuter fares have to stop somewhere but the blue zone should not be where this happens. Major commuter towns such as Drogheda, Navan, Newbridge, Wicklow etc. are roughly 45-50km from Dublin city centre and lie within this zone. This distance is within the commuter belt and Kildare, Meath & Wicklow are within the Greater Dublin Area. Many students and workers commute daily to the city from these towns and pay an extortionate fare. I am not against paying a higher fare from these areas but the increase of €7.20 on top of the price of the previous zone for a 24 hour ticket is disproportionate - all other increases from one zone to the next are under €3.
Furthermore there appears to be no difference between student and adult fares on many routes from towns in the Blue Zone, whereas the same cannot be said for fares on zones further in. For example on the 109A:
Dublin Airport to Navan (within Blue Zone), Adult Leap Card = €7
Dublin Airport to Navan (within Blue Zone), Student Leap Card = €7 (same price)
Compared to:
Dublin Airport to Dunshaughlin (within Green Zone), Adult Leap Card = €5.11
Dublin Airport to Dunshaughlin (within Green Zone), Student Leap Card = €4.06 (discounted price)
This lack of a discount is even more unpleasant when you compare the steep increase between the original adult fares in the blue zone and red zone (as touched upon above, albeit only concerning the 24 hour tickets).