New Leap Card App Launched

A new Leap Card app has been launched that will allow user with NFC-enabled (Near Field Communications) Android phones to check their balance, top-up their cards and a number of other functions, simply by touching their cards to their phones.

Launched by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe, the new app is expected to be particularly useful to bus users, who until now have had to detour to a shop to upload credit or ticket products bought earlier online.

"This new development further enhances the attractiveness of the Leap Card for users. Leap customers are already making significant savings of 20% on travel costs and are spared the hassle of having to make sure they have the right change before setting off," Minister Donohoe said.

"The NTA is to be commended for the forward thinking they have shown in respect of how to further improve Leap services. By listening to their customers and identifying an area that could make using Leap Cards even easier they set about addressing customers' needs through advances in digital technology."

Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority, who launched the Leap Card, added: "We are delighted to launch this fantastic new App today. Leap Card has huge public support – more than 1.5 million cards have been sold since its launch four years ago; it delivers 20% transport cost savings to card-holders, and gives great discounts to people transferring to another bus, Luas or rail service to complete their journey.

"We have been listening to customer feedback, and our bus customers in particular were telling us that they would welcome a more convenient top-up process. Train, DART and Luas users' cards automatically update following an online top-up or ticket purchase when the card is touched-on to a gate or terminal at the start of a journey, but the bus user has to go to a shop or a dedicated terminal, not always on their way, to load-up the credit they'd bought online or to collect their TaxSaver ticket. (The) new App means that people can make those top-up or ticket collections, using credit or debit cards, while they are on their way from A to B, or in the comfort of their own homes at night – whenever suits them – and start using them straightaway.

(MH/CD)