Dublin Bus has confirmed it plans to provide 24-hour services on all major routes into the city.
Round-the-clock services were introduced on two routes, the 15 and the 41, last year, with buses running every half hour between midnight and 5am.
In a letter to Sinn Féin TD Paul Donnelly, Dublin Bus CEO Ray Coyne said the 24-hours services have been a “great success” on both routes.
“It is our ambition to provide 24-hour services on main arterial routes within the city replacing the popular Nitelink services which operate at weekends,” he wrote.
He warned that the “phased introduction” of new round-the-clock services is dependent on funding from the National Transport Authority (NTA).
He said Dublin Bus would seek the funding “as soon as we return to some semblance of business as usual following COVID-19.”
This afternoon, Deputy Donnelly said 24-hour services that cover the entire city are the “natural progression” from the Nitelink.
He said the improvements will see more people coming into the city – and leaving their cars at home.
“It has been proven that if you have an effective public transport system that is affordable, that is efficient, that brings people to where they want to be and is there when they need it, then people will use it,” he said.
“It’s build it and they will come.”
He said many residents would be happy to give up their cars if they were able to get in and out of the city centre at any time of day without needing a taxi.
