Late night bus pilot will transform nightlife in rural Ireland – Boyle

A new pilot for late night bus services will deliver safe and reliable late-night transport for rural communities over busy weekends, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Senator Manus Boyle said the lack of public transport options has acted as a barrier to nightlife in rural areas and this scheme is looking to address this issue.

“The announcement of a new late-night bus service pilot for towns, including Buncrana, is a positive step for night-time economy and community life in rural Ireland.

“This new initiative will see a 1am bus service operating on key weekends throughout the year. I’m delighted to see that Buncrana has been chosen for the pilot; this service will be hugely important for people in the town over the coming bank holiday weekends.

“I have long been calling for the need for safe, reliable late-night transport in rural towns, and this scheme is the first step in seeing how we can roll this out for rural areas.

“The new service will make it easier for people to enjoy a night out, while also ensuring they have a safe and reliable way to get home. It will benefit local businesses, support jobs, and bring more life into our communities during the evening.

“The inclusion of Buncrana recognises the unique challenges faced by our rural towns in Donegal, where transport options can be limited at night. This pilot programme is a chance to show how improved services can make a real difference.

“This is a really positive development in transport for rural areas. Safe, reliable transport late at night is a major issue for so many areas, and this service will make a real difference for people, businesses and the community as a whole.

“I hope that, if successful, the service will be expanded, to benefit communities around the country,” concluded Senator Boyle.