The most senior official at the Department of Transport has said an integrated ticketing system for public transport is being developed as quickly as possible.
Secretary-General Julie O'Neil has said she is personally monitoring progress and said the system will be in place by September of next year.
The budget has been set at €50m - however it was originally capped at €30m in 2002.
Conor Faughnan from the AA has said Ireland's ambitions for integrated ticketing are in "a shambles".