Developed by the National Transport Authority (NTA), the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan is a significant public transport initiative aimed to enhance connectivity for residents living outside major cities and towns.
Focus of the plan
The plan focuses on improving mobility in rural areas by establishing better connections between villages and towns. Its dual purpose is to facilitate access to local services and enhance connectivity to an expanded regional network that links cities and regional centres across Ireland. In late 2021, the NTA actively engaged with stakeholders and the public to shape this transformative plan.
Multiphase strategy
Connecting Ireland operates as a multiphase strategy.
During Phase 1 (spanning 2022) and Phase 2 (spanning 2023) and Phase 3 (spanning 2024) a significant number of new and enhanced bus services were introduced.
Phase 4 (spanning 2025) builds upon the successes of these previous phases and extends the reach to even more rural areas across Ireland.
Plans for Phase 5 are underway as well as on-going reviews of services delivered in previous phases.
