SaS Points to Problems with Cyril App and Delays in Fare Integration (2)

Bratislava, 9 July (TASR) - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (Sa)S party has highlighted problems with the roll-out and functioning of the Cyril app, designed to allow travellers in Slovakia to use multiple modes of public transport using a single ticket. According to the party, this concerns an inefficient use of public resources. SaS also highlighted the delay in meeting the commitment to provide fare integration in self-governing regions as part of Slovakia's Recovery and Resilience Plan. "The Transport Ministry committed itself to meeting an important milestone - it was supposed to provide fare integration in six self-governing regions by the end of June 2026. That deadline has already passed," MP Marian Viskupic (SaS) told a press conference on Thursday. According to him, while the Transport Ministry has launched the app, it was completely non-functional during its first few days and will cost a total of €24 million. "To be precise, development cost €12 million, and another €12 million will be spent on further development, maintenance and support over the next five years," stated Viskupic. The lawmaker pointed out that the recovery plan isn't so much about donated millions, but about tough and clear reforms instead. "Slovakia always receives money from Brussels once reforms are actually implemented. If we fail to implement them, or if the country merely pretends to do so, we simply won't see those millions," he stressed. Viskupic went on to say that it's unclear what the Transport Ministry has accomplished, in which regions the app actually works, and what new rules apply to passengers. "Unfortunately, we don't have the answers because the Transport Ministry is keeping them secret," he stated. Spokeswoman for the Transport Ministry Petra Polacikova told TASR that the system has been in controlled commercial operation since 1 July. According to her, the web application at www.cyril.sk is functional and available, and the Android and iOS mobile apps are ready. "They are currently going through the standard approval process on Google Play and the App Store. The Transport Ministry has no way to influence or accelerate this process," said the spokesperson. According to the ministry, whether a milestone has been met in the recovery plan or not is determined by the number of regions in which the system has been implemented, not by the number of regions in which fares have been unified. "From this perspective, the milestone hasn't only been met but even exceeded, as the government committed itself to six regions and has ultimately integrated all eight. We'd just like to point out that the entire recovery plan - and thus also the plan to introduce a unified fare - was developed at a time when SaS was part of the government, even though it is now criticising it," said Polacikova. "It isn't true that the app cost €24 million. The total cost of the app and hardware was just under €12 million, and it will be fully covered by the recovery and resilience plan," stated Polacikova. According to previously published information, the development and preparation of the Cyril app cost nearly €12 million, excluding value-added tax, while the costs of operating it over five years are expected to amount to another approximately €12 million, ex-VAT. NOTE: This story has been extended to include the final four paragraphs. am/df