The government froze price increases for public transport tickets for the second year in a row and expanded free access for students under 23. This measure had a budgetary impact of €126 million.
According to the report accompanying the draft state budget for 2024 (OE2024), presented on Tuesday to the Assembly of the Republic, the free 4_18 and sub23 passes will cover all students in primary and secondary education (4_18), as well as higher education (U23).
In terms of the number of beneficiaries, the government estimates that “out of a potential student population of 1.7 million, about 370 thousand adhere” to regular use of these passes, representing a “36% increase over current beneficiaries.” .
Considering that there are no free passes for students under 23 in 2023, a budget increase of 126 million euros is provided for the implementation of the measure.
On Friday, the leader of the Socialist Bench, Eurico Brillante Díaz, after a meeting with finance ministers and the deputy minister of parliamentary affairs in which the main directions of OE2024 were presented, had already put forward the measure, officially announced on Tuesday in a report. accompanying budget.
“In the field of transport and mobility, we will have free passes for students under 23 years of age, as well as a freeze on all other passes to improve mobility in public transport and combat climate change,” Eurico Brillante said at the time. Days.
According to the report, the government is encouraging “the adoption of sustainable mobility models by young people,” thereby helping “as with the Fare Reduction Support Programme, to increase household disposable income.”
In parallel with the introduction of free passes, the government will also consider implementing support provided at school social events level to make membership requests easier.