Barry Ward
Question:211. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport his views on the merits of expanding nighttime bus services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65440/25]
View answerTuesday, 25 November 2025
Questions (211)
Written answers
The Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. This is evident in the Programme for Government to ensuring that public transport is as accessible as possible, supports the delivery of services, and incentivise off-peak travel.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
Night-time bus services offers clear benefits, including providing reliable travel options for late-night workers, supporting the night-time economy, and promoting environmental sustainability by reducing reliance on private cars.
Currently, Dublin has several 24-hour bus routes introduced under the BusConnects programme, such as E1, E2, F1, and F2, while Nitelink services operate on weekends to connect the city centre with suburban areas. In addition, extra late-night services will be provided in the lead-up to Christmas on Luas, DART, and Commuter rail, alongside expanded Nitelink and commuter bus options. These are in addition to the growing 24-hour bus network and the regular Nitelink services. Full details of the Christmas schedules are expected to be published late next week, consistent with the approach taken in previous years.
In light of the NTA’s responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.