Two Dublin Bus routes are set to become 24-hour services from next month.
The 41 and 15 routes will operate on an around-the-clock basis from December 1 in the city.
The 41 runs from the city centre to the airport and onwards to Swords, while the 15 runs from Ballycullen Road through the city centre and on to Clongriffin.
Up until now, these services have run from early morning to late evening.
From next month, the frequency of buses will improve during the day and will also run every 30 minutes throughout the night from midnight to 5am.
The fare for passengers travelling during the day or at night will remain the same.
NTA CEO Anne Graham said the two new 24-hour routes indicates "a public transport service that reflects the changing city”.
She said: “The manner in which Dublin functions as a city has shifted gradually but dramatically in recent years. It is no longer the case that city shuts down at 11 or 12 at night.
“The patterns of work and socialising have changed. For instance, the success in attracting to the city, major employers who are headquartered many time-zones away, serving markets around the world, means that commercial and economic activity in Dublin continues around the clock."
Dublin Bus CEO Ray Coyne said: “These services will help unlock the full potential of Dublin’s vibrant and growing night-time economy while also providing early morning journeys into the city centre for our commuters, further assisting in the fight against congestion.”
Business group Dublin Chamber welcomed the announcement, saying it was “an early Christmas present for the city”.
The Chamber's Head of Communications Graeme McQueen said: "Demand has been there for some time for a 24-hour bus service between the city centre and Dublin Airport. This is a small but important step forward for the city.
The way people access and move around the city is changing considerably and it’s important that our transport providers respond to demand.
He continued: "It’s encouraging to see that the normal fare structure will also apply to these new 24-hour services. If these two new routes prove successful, then there is scope for the addition of more 24-hour services in the city."
