The National Transport Authority (NTA) says 55 rural evening and night-time services are to become permanent.

It has released its report on the Rural Transport-funded scheme for the year ending 2019.

The 55 services are now mainstreamed for funding within the Rural Transport Programme.

An initial six-month pilot, running from June to December 2018, was extended twice to gather more information on passenger trends and usage.

Of the 65 services, 23 were extensions to regular public transport services and 42 were demand-responsive services.

Services were provided nationally across all 26 counties and ran on average from 6.00pm to 11.00pm on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Ten of the originally approved demand-responsive evening services either did not begin due to local circumstances, or were subsequently cancelled due to poor take up levels.

After the third pilot finished in December last year, it was established that all existing performing services have been budgeted for in 2020.

Evening figures more than doubled from January to reach a peak in July and August.

Local Link Waterford Tallow to Dungarvan service Route 363 and Local Link Wexford Rosslare to Wexford service Route 387 recorded the highest number of evening trips in the country, followed closely by Route 883A Newbridge to Athy in Local Link Kildare.

Other routes that saw high demand were Route 983 Kinlough to Bundoran, Route 865 Granard and Longford, Route 361 Ardmore to Dungarvan, and Route 293 Glencolmcille to Donegal town.

Margaret Malone, rural transport manager, said: "We are very encouraged by the findings in this report and what they indicate about the transport habits of those living in rural areas.

"During summer in particular, it is clear that demand exists for services well into the evening, and the Rural Transport Programme is well positioned to provide local residents with late-night transport.

"With the continuation of 55 evening services in 2020, we hope the trend of evening travel will continue to serve residents well."