A national rollout of a new ticketing system, which will allow public transport users to tap with bank cards or phones, will not begin outside the Greater Dublin Area until that area is complete, and it is only scheduled to start from 2028.The system is designed to be a national system, but despite some media reports saying it is a national rollout, the current programme only covers the Greater Dublin Area, in other words, counties Dublin, Kildare,Meath, andWicklow. This means cities like Limerick and Galway (pictured), where dwell times can be extremely long as all passengers interact with the city bus driver, will not receive a new ticketing system until sometime after 2030.There is a plan to reduce that driver interaction by installing Leap card validators to the right of passengers as they enter buses in Cork, as has been operated in Dublin for years, but this has been delayed as there were issues with the slowness of the system.The Echo newspaper reported in October last that In Cork The NTA previously toldThe Echothat the rollout of a new Leap Card validator system across the urban bus fleet in Cork would be complete in Q3 of 2025, the end of September.The Next Generation Ticketing rollout includes replacing thousands of validators on buses, at tram stops, and at train stations. It also includes replacing ticket machines and the backend systems that process payments. The new system will include accounts-based ticketing, where a bank card or a virtual card on a phone or smartwatch can be used like a Leap card, with fare capping and other discounts applied automatically. It will also overall modernise the system, replacing ageing systems which transport operators are reportedly worried about finding replacement parts for.When IrishCycle.com asked for a timeline for the rollout of Next Generation Ticketing outside the Greater Dublin Area, a spokesperson for the National Transport Authority said: There is no confirmed timeline at this stage.The NTA confirmed that the current rollout of contactless payments on TFI Local Link services is separate from the Next Generation Ticketing programme. A spokesperson also confirmed that systems currently being rolled out on Local Link will eventually be replaced as part of the national rollout of the new ticketing system.Contactless payments on TFI Local Link services will continue to be rolled out throughout 2026. In parallel, the NGT programme is targeting the introduction of contactless payments in the Greater Dublin Area from 2028, the spokesperson said.The NTA spokesperson added: It is anticipated that the rollout to services outside the GDA will follow once the GDA phase has been completed, subject to the necessary approvals and funding.The tender for the Next Generation Ticketing programme was won by Indra Group, a Spanish tech company with divisions covering transport, defence, and aerospace. When opening the companys new Dublin offices last month, the Minister for Transport, Darragh OBrien, said:The opening of Indras new headquarters in Dublin is a clear signal of Irelands ambition to lead in transport innovation. This office will be the nervecentrefor the efficient delivery of a nationwide contactless ticketing system, improving convenience forpassengersand supporting sustainable mobility.He added: I will be working closely with the team to ensure it is delivered within the timelines promised. I look forward to seeing this transformation, making public transport easier for everyone across the country.