[on the move]

That's the official explanation.

In January 2005, there was a fare increase.
In January 2006, there was a fare increase.
In January 2007, there was a fare increase.
In January 2008, there was a fare increase.
In January 2009, there was a fare increase.
In January 2012, there was a fare increase.

All for the same reason, and all at the same (almost to the exact date) time of year. "Increased costs". The extensions cited as reasons are merely smokescreens, i.e. if it wasn't that reason, it would be something else.

The reality facing everyone in Ireland these days, is that everyone's costs are rising, and everyone's incomes are falling. We all have to make more out of having less. That applies to Luas as much as everyone else. It's not fair, and nobody wants it that way, but that's life in this country at the moment. Pushing up fares just because that's when it was always done, is unlikely to make significant reductions in costs in the next 12 months. And what will be the solution? Another fare increase.

Groundhog Day.