Written answer
Public Transport
127. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Transport the progress being made in improving public transport connectivity for counties in the Midlands region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46227/26]
Comment on this
In February of 2025 the NTA launched a transformative town bus service for Portlaoise. The new bus routes, PL1 and PL2, provide improved connections to the town centre, hospitals and rail services.
These routes provide early-morning and late-evening services to connect with Portlaoise train station, facilitating improved onward travel to Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and other centres. The services also improve connectivity with retail zones such as Portlaoise Town Centre and Laois Shopping Centre, as well as Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise and St. Fintan’s Hospital.
In February of 2026 the NTA launched the new Mullingar town bus service, with two dedicated town bus routes, MU1 and MU2, providing frequent, reliable and accessible services throughout the day and into the late evening.
The new services improve connectivity between key destinations including the town centre, Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar, Saint Mary’s Hospital Campus, Mullingar Business Park, Lough Sheever Corporate Park, Mullingar Train Station, and the wider TFI bus network.
These services operate for up to 18 hours a day, providing early morning and late-night services that support shift workers, students, social and leisure trips, and the continued growth of Mullingar’s evening and night-time economy.
Late-night services improve access to restaurants, entertainment venues, cultural events and evening employment, while offering a safe, affordable and sustainable alternative to private car use.
As for regular rural services, counties Offaly and Laois have seen significant investment in rural transport in recent years with funding increasing by 36% between 2024 and 2025, to over €5.5m. Passenger numbers on TFI Local Link regular routes in Offaly and Laois also increased by 52% from 2024 to 2025. In addition, funding for Counties Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon increased by 54% to over €4.1m between 2024 and 2025 boosting passenger numbers by 90%.