The National Transport Authority (NTA) has today published the Connecting Ireland Phase Three Implementation Review, marking the continued expansion of rural bus services under the five-year Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan.
In 2024, the plan continued to expand with the implementation of Phase 3, which introduced 45 new and enhanced bus services. This included 17 entirely new routes and 28 enhancements such as increased service frequency and route extensions. As a result, over 120,000 additional weekly vehicle kilometres were added to the public transport network, significantly broadening access to reliable transport options.
The expansion in 2024 led to 54 new towns and villages being connected to the national public transport system. This increased accessibility has had a notable impact on passenger numbers.
Almost 8 million journeys were recorded across all Connecting Ireland services during the year, with 1.2 million of those journeys attributed specifically to the services introduced in Phase 3.
The programme has seen a 165% increase in patronage compared to the beginning of 2019, and a 38% rise in usage from 2023 to 2024 alone, reflecting growing public reliance on and confidence in rural bus services.
Phase 4, planned for 2025, will continue to roll out new and enhanced services, guided by passenger feedback and ongoing local monitoring. Full route listings, maps and detailed analysis are now available in the Phase Three Implementation Review.
The Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan is a five‑year national programme launched in 2022 by the NTA and funded by the Department of Transport. Its core aims:
For further details, Please view the Connecting Ireland Phase 3 Implementation Review – National Transport.
