In total 67 new or enhanced rural bus services have been proposed across Ireland in the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan for 2023 launched today (Friday, February 17).
The plan which aims to strengthen existing services and connecting more towns and townlands nationwide was launched by Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan and the National Transport Authority (NTA).
Investment to implement the additional Connecting Ireland bus services will double to €8.5 million provided by the Department of Transport and the NTA, up from €4 million last year.
Rural Mobility Plan 2023
These services are provided on behalf of the NTA by 15 Transport For Ireland (TFI) Local Link offices nationwide, including Laois/Offaly Local Link, according to the NTA.
Bus Éireann will also be a key partner, with some 20 of the routes identified in the plan to be delivered in counties such as Galway, Waterford, Clare and Cork.
This follows the implementation of seven new and enhanced services last year, providing connectivity for 72 towns and villages and adding 1.7 million kilometres to the overall public transport network.
Commenting at today’s launch in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, Minister Ryan, said: “We know from last year’s statistics that people respond positively to new routes and services, backed up by our new cheaper fares.
“Young people, in particular, are choosing to use public transport more which is great. It’s more convenient, it’s more accessible and frequent than it’s been and it’s cheaper than driving and paying for a parking spot all day in college or school.
“The more people choose public transport the better it is for our environment as well. Public transport, both rural and urban, is a key to Ireland meeting our emissions targets.”
In 2022 Connecting Ireland delivered 38 new and enhanced bus services across various counties, bringing new bus services to 67 additional towns.
Bus services
Passenger numbers on buses have returned to pre-Covid-19 levels at 2.5 million in total in 2019, particularly on TFI Local Link services in rural Ireland, the NTA said.
Last year the annual passenger journey figure rose to 2.8 million, which is a recovery of 112%. Weekly numbers peaked at over 45,000 passengers in November and December 2022.
The Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan for 2023 will deliver better access to safe, reliable, and more frequent bus services connecting towns and villages, NTA CEO, Anne Graham said.
“We are committed to continuing to develop connectivity and mobility in rural areas through the phased rollout of new and enhanced bus services this year and in future years,” she added.
The list of proposed new and enhanced routes under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan for 2023 includes:
Route Number Route Description 897 Kilkenny – Castlecomer – Carlow – Athy 188 Athboy – Drogheda via Navan and Duleek 384 Enniscorthy – Wexford 887 Carlow – Newross 232 Dursey Sound – Kilcrohane 438 Tuam – Headford – Corrundulla – Galway 276 Castlemaine – North Dingle 277 Dingle – Dunquin 426 Longford – Roscommon 978 Belmullet – Castlebar 356 Dungarvan – Clonmel 387 Wexford Town – Rosslare Harbour via Rosslare Strand 272 Tralee – Ballybunion 279 Tralee – Killarney 423 Clifden – Westport 139 Naas – Blanchardstown 171 Shercock – Dundalk 547 Portumna – Ballinasloe 274 Tarbert – Tralee 280 Ring of Kerry northern half 281 Ring of Kerry southern half – Caherciveen – Knightstown 129 Kilcullen – Newbridge 885 Sallins – Baltinglass 834 Roscrea – Portlaoise 850 Roscrea – Athlone – Kilrush – Loophead 344 Ennis – Whitegate 819 Mullingar – Athlone via Castletown Geoghegan 189 Enfield – Navan 454 Ballina – Castlebar 322 Portumna – Nenagh 854 Nenagh – Roscrea 357 Youghal – Dungarvan via Villierstown 361 Youghal – Dungarvan via Ardmore 388 Wexford – Bridgetown 243 Newmarket – Cork 424 Carraroe – Galway 331 Ballyvaughan – Ennis 329 Limerick – Kilfinane 270 Skibbereen – Killarney 170 Cavan – Dundalk 354 Portlaw – Dunmore East – Carrick-on-Suir 132 Bunclody to Dublin – Macroom – Cork 333 Kilkee – Ennis via Miltown Malbay – Ennis – Galway 360 Tramore – Waterford – Wexford – Waterford – Westport – Athlone – Bailieboro – Cootehill – Galway – Mountbellew – Cavan – Kells – Gibbstown – Cootehill – Shercock – Bailieboro – Virginia – Clones – Newry – Mallow – Fermoy – Lismore – Sligo – Cavan – Moville – Malin Head Tower – Carndonagh – Buncrana – Castlegregory – Fenit 888 Athy – Rathangan – Kildare – Mountrath – Carlow – Athlone – Nenagh – Limerick – Cork – Bandon – Nenagh – Limerick 446 Belmullet – Ballina – Baltimore – Union Hall