TFI Local Link, or simply Local Link, is a set of local bus services in the Republic of Ireland which provide local public transport in rural areas, typically linking villages to local towns. As well as scheduled services, Local Link provides bookable door-to-door services for those with reduced mobility.[1][2] Managed by Transport for Ireland (TFI), the services are publicly subsidised.
History edit
A 2002 pilot project "Rural Transport Initiative" was started to look into unaddressed transport needs, giving rise to a "Rural Transport Programme". Services were originally managed locally by voluntary groups. A 2013 restructuring of management reduced the large number of local groups to a number of "Transport Co-ordination Units" (subsequently branded as "Local Link offices"). Funding is from the government's Public Service Obligation via the National Transport Authority (NTA) under its Transport for Ireland (TFI) brand. In February 2023, the government proposed a large expansion of Local Link services.[3]
Services edit
Bus services are managed by TFI and operated by a large number of local operators (400 as at 2021).[1] As of 2023, Local Link services were managed by 15 local offices. These offices cover:
- Donegal Sligo Leitrim
- Cavan Monaghan
- Mayo
- Galway
- Longford Westmeath Roscommon
- Louth Meath Fingal
- Laois Offaly
- Kildare & South Dublin
- Limerick Clare
- Tipperary
- Carlow Kilkenny Wicklow
- Kerry
- Cork
- Waterford
- Wexford
References edit
- ^ a b "Rural Transport Programme/TFI Local Link". National Transport Authority. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ "Bus services". Citizens Information. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ Freiberg, Rubina (17 February 2023). "Over 60 additional rural bus services proposed across Ireland". Agriland. Retrieved 6 June 2023.