From door-to-door buses to community links, the Connecting Ireland plan is transforming mobility and addressing isolation in towns and villages countrywide. Since its launch in October 2021, more than 150 new or enhanced bus routes have been introduced. In 2024 alone, 45 new services were added.
TFI Local Link now operates regular rural bus routes alongside door-to-door services, which run along fixed routes but can divert to collect passengers and drop them at their homes. Community car schemes also cover areas with no other public transport, extending the reach of the network.
The impact has been significant, says Seamus Boland, chief executive of Irish Rural Link. “Since the establishment of the plan in 2021 to 2014, there has been a 28 per cent increase in passengers in 2024 than in the previous year. Connecting Ireland has enabled a transport link between towns that previously had none. It has improved accessibility for many communities and supported greater social and economic inclusion.”
The door-to-door service is a vital lifeline for so many people living in rural areas, Boland says. “This bus is not just about getting groceries and the pension, but it is about the social meet-up that it offers passengers.
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“Each person using the bus has an opportunity to chat with neighbours, find out the local chat, find out who isn’t well and gives people the opportunity to go into a shop and pick out their own fruit and vegetables and gives them autonomy on what they are spending their money on. Sometimes the shopping trip is the only independent social outing that people have during the week.”
Additionally, there is the community car service, which operates differently in various parts of the country, says Boland. “Through the community car service, people can have one-to-one transport and get where they need to go – whether hospital or town. This transport means people can live at home more independently and arrange where they want to go at a time that suits them.”
The impact is already visible in rural life, says Shanna Collins, director in EY Ireland’s government and infrastructure team. “The new services launched in 2023 now link 190 towns with colleges, hospitals and rail, while TFI Local Link has grown to more than 100,000 weekly rural trips.
“This is tangible evidence in of itself to improved access to education, healthcare and jobs – and a powerful sign of how rural transport strengthens inclusion and economic opportunity.”
As Connecting Ireland grows, the main risks are operational rather than strategic, says Collins. “A shortage of drivers and mechanics is already being experienced across the sector and will need targeted solutions. Rural infrastructure, from depots to road quality, must also keep pace.”
Digitally, the priority will be seamless ticketing and platform integration, so passengers can plan, book and travel with ease, says Collins. “Scaling must remain financially sustainable, with reliable funding for operations and maintenance – with careful phasing and forward planning, these challenges can be turned into opportunities to build a stronger, more resilient network.”
Integration is transformational for rural mobility, says Collins. “Next Generation Ticketing, which is currently being planned for, will bring contactless payments across Ireland’s transport system, removing barriers and creating a seamless user experience.
“International examples, such as New South Wales’s roll-out of tap-and-pay, show that when friction is removed, people change how they travel. The same opportunity exists here – to drive a real step-change in accessibility and inclusion across rural communities.”
The National Transport Authority is working with the Local Link offices, Bus Éireann and other operators and plans to implement the full Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan by the end of 2027, subject to funding, says an authority spokesperson. “Following implementation of the full plan, we will continue to enhance public transport services to ensure that they provide a high-quality public transport services for local residents and provide improved integration between rail and bus services.
“We are working to roll out improved bus infrastructure, including upgraded and new stop infrastructure, interchange facilities and bus stop information. Furthermore, we will seek to improve service co-ordination between healthcare, school, commercial and other transport providers.”
