Making transport free cheaper than cost of penalties for missed environmental targets

James Donlon from Bracklyn and Eoin Horan from Mullingar have taken a bold stance on Ireland’s climate crisis with their Young Scientist project, ‘From Fare to Fresh Air’.

The duo’s research argues that making public transport entirely free is not just a luxury, but a financial and environmental necessity if Ireland is to avoid astronomical climate fines.

The inspiration for the project came from a desire to address the most pressing issue facing their generation. “The one that stood out to us as young people was climate change,” James explained. “This affects our life in the years to come and our future, so it is definitely a big topic.”

A central pillar of their argument is the sheer inefficiency of Ireland’s current commuting habits.

Citing the 2022 census, the students noted that over two-thirds of people still rely on private cars for work. “It’s a lot more environmentally friendly to have one bus with 30 people on it than have 30 separate cars with 30 separate engines,” James said, adding that reducing car volume would also tackle the grim statistics of road safety, which saw 185 deaths and thousands of injuries in 2025.

Beyond the environmental impact, the students highlighted a looming “financial time bomb” for the Irish taxpayer. Ireland is currently off-track for its 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, with 2024 data showing energy consumption still sitting at 81.5% fossil fuels. “If we don’t meet these goals, we’ll be fined €26 billion,” James warned.

Eoin Horan pointed out that while the sticker price of free transport sounds high, it is a bargain compared to the alternative. “This project will cost €750 million a year, but it will work out in the long run,” Eoin said. “Before we make it free, we’ll look into restoring old train tracks and building new routes to help people in more rural areas to increase the usage of public transport.”

The team’s primary research suggests that the public is ready for the change. After surveying nearly 100 people and engaging with climate activists and transport subreddits, they found a clear consensus. “The vast majority of people said that they would use public transport a lot more if it was there free to use,” Eoin noted.

By shifting the focus from individual car ownership to a robust, free national network, the students believe Ireland can finally bridge the gap between its current emissions and its 2030 targets.