Whopping 300,000 passengers use Laois and Offaly local ink bus services
The service was launched in 2023
A whopping 300,000 passengers have already travelled on local link bus services in Laois and Offaly in 2025.
Transport for Ireland has described the number as a ''huge milestone''.
It is considered very likely that total passenger numbers will exceed 350,000 by the end of the year.
Two years ago the then Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan launched the 'Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan for 2023'
Speaking at the launch he had said ''It’s clear that when you build it, they will come. 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.''
TFI Local Link Laois Offaly co-ordinate rural bus transport services across Laois and Offaly. It has 67 services with approximately 400 trips a week. These include Regular Rural Services (RRS) and Door-to-Door Services (DRT’s).
Laois and Offaly are however yet to be included in a new pick-up bus service by the TFI.
TFI has also introduced Anseo which is a new smart demand responsive transport service. Using the TFI Anseo app, you can book a bus to pick you up from a certain location.
It is unlike traditional bus services, and doesn’t follow a fixed route. Instead, it travels wherever passengers need to go within the service area.