Delays are expected on buses and trains today when hundreds of thousands of commuters use the euro for the first time.
Passengers returning to work after the Christmas break can pay their fares in punts but will receive change only in the new currency.
Dublin Bus, Bus ╔ireann and Iarnr≤d ╔ireann said no significant difficulties were faced yesterday when the euro was introduced. Taxi representatives also said the changeover ran smoothly.
However, only reduced services were available on the bank holiday, and a greater challenge is expected today when full services are resumed.
About 500,000 people travel on Dublin Bus services on a normal day, its spokesman said, and some 200,000 on a bank holiday. Tickets were issued in euro denominations for the first time yesterday.
In an effort to encourage passengers to purchase pre-paid tickets, mobile ticket units would be parked outside Clerys department store in O'Connell Street; in Westmoreland Street; and at Aston Quay and Eden Quay.
Passengers have been urged not to mix currencies and to pay their exact fare because change receipts will not be issued again until January 22nd.
The company normally issues change receipts which can be redeemed at its office in O'Connell Street, but this has been suspended to facilitate the changeover.
Based on figures from the same period last year, this was expected to leave Dublin Bus with a change surplus of €40,000. The company had divided that amount among six charities instead of paying change. The spokesman added that euro fares had been rounded down by order of the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke.
Iarnr≤d ╔ireann said the changeover went "exceptionally well" yesterday. While inter-city services were busy due to the end of the holiday season, its spokesman said, the major test would be faced this morning when full commuter services resume.
Staff on the Enterprise service between Dublin and Belfast had handled sterling, punt and euro yesterday, he said. Rail passengers were encouraged to use pre-paid monthly and weekly tickets. The company is running a draw to encourage take-up.
Bus ╔ireann's spokesman also said no major difficulties were faced yesterday. However, many of those who used the service were travelling with return tickets purchased before Christmas, and commuter traffic was low.
With full services resuming today, the company is accepting payment in both currencies until February 9th. It began issuing change in only euro yesterday.
Despite a fare increase from yesterday, taxis were thin on the ground on the night of December 31st and on New Year's Day. The vice-president of the National Taxi-Drivers' Union, Mr Vincent Kearns, attributed the shortage to a "low" bank holiday charge which was "no great incentive" for drivers to work.
The fare rise brings the daytime rate for a five-mile journey 15.7 per cent higher. Of the euro's introduction, Mr Kearns said the greatest problem was that drivers had not been able to stock up with euro notes before yesterday. In addition, only 40 per cent of drivers had converted their meters in advance of the changeover.
