Anne Shaw, Chief Executive Officer of the National Transport Authority (NTA), has today welcomed the additional funding secured by the Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, for Public Service Obligation (PSO) TFI services announced as part of Budget 2027, describing it as a major boost for public transport users and communities throughout Ireland.
Additional funding for public transport services
Speaking on the announcement, Anne Shaw said: “The additional funding announced this week is a very positive development for public transport and for the communities we serve right across the country.
“Public transport has experienced significant growth in recent years and this funding ensures, working with our operators, that we can continue to grow the services on the network to meet demand building on that momentum. It will help make sustainable travel a realistic and attractive option for more people while supporting access to employment, education, healthcare and other essential services.”
Expanding the TFI network
“This investment builds on broader investment in initiatives including Connecting Ireland, the expansion of town bus services, improvements to commuter and inter-urban routes, and the further delivery of the BusConnects Network Redesign plans. It will enable the NTA to accelerate the expansion of the TFI network, delivering approximately 140 new and improved services improving connectivity for people in cities, towns and rural areas”.
Delivering improvements in 2027
“Our priority now is to work closely with operators and other stakeholders to firm up our plans for these improvements in 2027. We anticipate releasing further information in the coming weeks to provide clarity on what is being delivered and when this is likely to happen. We want people to see the results of this allocation through better connections, more frequent services, new travel opportunities and improved public transport options where they are needed most.
“We look forward to working collaboratively with operators, local authorities, Transport Coordination Units and communities to bring these improvements to life.”