To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether her Department monitors where digital public transport tickets are available for town services.

This issue is an operational matter for Translink. I have sought the requested information and have been advised as follows:

The Department for Infrastructure does not routinely monitor the specific availability of digital ticketing products across individual town bus services. The provision and rollout of digital ticketing is an operational matter for Translink, which continues to develop and expand mobile ticketing across its network. As part of its longer-term ticketing strategy, Translink is progressing towards the introduction of account-based ticketing across all bus and rail services, which is designed to make accessing the public transport network simpler and more flexible for customers, while ensuring they receive the best available fare for their journeys. The Department maintains oversight of Translink’s overall performance and strategic investment, including progress on improving ticketing and customer experience.