Benefits | Travel Tax Saver Schemes at DCU | Travel Pass Scheme
Travel Pass Scheme
The Travel Pass Scheme
Is an arrangement that allows DCU to buy annual commuter tickets on behalf of employees, so you can significantly save on travel expenses.
The scheme applies to the annual travel passes issued by Irish Rail, Dublin Bus, Luas, Bus Éireann and Matthews Coaches.
For more information about the scheme and its benefits, visit TaxSaver.ie.
Taxsaver Fares Determination 2025
The National Transport Authority (NTA) issued a public transport Fares Determination in 2024. As part of this Fares Determination a new Zonal ticketing system will be introduced for the Greater Dublin area with the changes aiming to make travel more flexible and convenient for commuters with existing Taxsaver products being simplified and fare levels adjusted.
The introduction of the new Dublin Commuter Zone, which consists of a series of zones extending to approximately 50km from Dublin city centre, will see many Taxsaver tickets / products replaced with unlimited multi-modal travel.
Current Annual and Monthly Tickets will be valid until their expiry dates however upon renewal will move to the relevant new product for the travel zone. The new Dublin City Zone products will only be available to purchase through Iarnród Éireann.
Am I eligible for the DCU travel pass scheme?
You must have a permanent or temporary full-time contract with DCU to apply.
Your contract end date should not be less than one year from the date the scheme begins.
How do I apply for a travel pass?
First-time applicants must upload a digital passport photo for the following ticket types:
- annual travelwide
- Dublin Bus only
- annual DART/commuter Rail only
- annual Dublin Bus and Luas
- annual Dublin Bus and rail short hop
- annual DART/commuter rail and Luas
- annual DART/commuter rail, Dublin Bus and Luas.
For Matthews Coaches tickets:
- You must have a personalised Leap Card to apply. Apply at LeapCard.ie.
- You also need to complete a separate application form on the Matthews Coaches website.
Look out for an email with the opening dates for the Travel Pass Scheme.
Terms and conditions
- The university will buy your travel pass so long as you forego the equivalent value from your annual salary in lieu.
- The scheme operates on an annual basis to meet the Revenue Commissioners' requirements for salary sacrifice. (This is an agreement where an employee takes a remuneration cut and in return, the employer provides a benefit of a corresponding amount.)
- You can only cancel your subscription when the full year period expires.
- If you leave your DCU job before your agreement expires, the outstanding travel pass debt is deducted from your final salary, wages or any other monies due. If there isn’t enough there to cover the debt, you’ll have to reimburse the university.
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DCU accepts no liability or responsibility for lost travel passes. To replace lost travel passes, visit the Taxsaver website.
If you have any other questions about travel passes, contact Learning.Development@dcu.ie.