The National Transport Authority (NTA) has today published the Connecting Ireland, Phase Two Implementation Review.
The report examines the rollout of greatly improved bus services in rural areas under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan. The aim of the five-year programme is to improve rural bus services, therefore, giving more people access to reliable and frequent public transport services connecting towns and townlands.
65 new and enhanced bus services, improved connectivity for 190 towns
In 2023, the NTA launched a total of 65 Connecting Ireland routes, 24 new and 41 enhanced bus services, expanding our Transport for Ireland (TFI) public transport network.
Last year, a total of 4.7 million passenger journeys were recorded on Connecting Ireland rural bus routes, with new connections established to 190 towns and villages, 34 colleges and 42 hospitals as well as offering 49 connections to onward rail services.
Growth of 110% in just 4 years by the end of 2023
The patronage on Connecting Ireland bus services saw a growth of 110% by the end of 2023, compared to 2019. The number of passengers using these services in rural Ireland increased by 70% year-on-year from 2022 to 2023.
2024 is the third year of the five year Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan and the NTA aims to continue introducing, new and enhanced, bus services across the State.
Details are available at the full Connecting Ireland Phase Two Implementation Review 2023.
Further information about Connecting Ireland
The Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan is a major public transport initiative developed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) with the aim of increasing connectivity, particularly for people living outside our major towns and cities. The plan aims to improve mobility in rural areas by providing frequent and affordable transport services that offer freedom to travel and sustainable transport connections.