Bus Éireann’s journey towards greener, smarter public transport

2024 was another landmark year for Bus Éireann, defined by continued passenger growth, service expansion, and major strides toward our vision for a more sustainable transport future.

We recorded 111.6 million passenger journeys, a 4.3 per cent increase on the previous year, reflecting the ever-growing demand for public transport in Ireland and the incredible efforts of our 3,100+ strong team who deliver vital services across every corner of the country.

All areas of our business saw growth. Public Service Obligation (PSO) services rose by 7 per cent, Expressway grew by 4 per cent, and School Transport saw a 2 per cent increase, delivering 58 million school journeys, a service that plays a critical role in rural and local communities. This growth reaffirms our position as Ireland’s national bus company, a trusted, national operator and an essential part of the public transport fabric of Ireland.

Despite this success, we are acutely aware that challenges persist, particularly in areas such as further improved punctuality and real-time updates for our customers. These remain key priorities for 2025 and beyond, especially as we work to adapt to a growing population, increased urban congestion, and evolving customer expectations. As part of our corporate strategy, Horizon 28: Our Vision for Green Growth, we are focused on operational excellence, service innovation, and digital transformation.

The operating landscape is shifting rapidly. New competitive tenders, a heightened focus on sustainability, and rising customer expectations demand agility. In 2024, we began operating a new Direct Award Contract for PSO services and were also awarded competitive contracts for Waterford City, Carlow Town, and the Eastern Commuter Corridor.

Technological transformation is, of course, key to our future success. In that regard, we have begun digitalising our school transport services and laid the procurement groundwork for a national smart ticketing rollout to 7,500 vehicles. Our investment in innovation will ensure that we remain competitive, efficient, and responsive to our customers’ evolving needs.

Sustainability is central to both our business strategy and our values as an organisation. For instance, we have committed to a 51 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050. In 2024, we introduced Ireland’s first fully electric regional city bus network in Limerick, with 34 battery-electric double-deckers covering 2.1 million zero-emission kilometres annually. We also trialled hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel in Ballina, with further rollout planned this year.

Bus Éireann continues to also demonstrate its commitment to sustainability through the ongoing rollout of electric buses nationally. To further support this transition, we are currently undertaking depot electrification projects in Galway, Cork, and Sligo in partnership with the NTA, ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place for a sustainable future in public transportation nationwide.

Moreover, Ireland’s 2030 decarbonisation goals are to the forefront of our strategic priorities. As bus transport offers the most cost-effective way to meeting these goals which can be implemented with pace within a public transport context, Bus Éireann urges a more rapid investment in EV roll-out in the context of the 2026 budgetary dialogue.

Operationally, we also achieved significant milestones. We now operate 216 PSO routes across Ireland and launched a major expansion of services between Limerick, Shannon, and Ennis, integrating School Transport and public services to improve efficiency and connectivity. We also extended the Independent Travel Support service to Limerick, Galway, and Waterford, providing critical support for customers with special needs. Our 99 per cent success rate for wheelchair bookings underlines our commitment to inclusivity.

“Our enhanced safety culture, informed by data and collaboration with the RSA and HSA, has helped minimise incidents and maintain high standards across all operations.”

Workforce development and growth has been a major focus. In 2024, we hired over 500 new employees, bringing our total workforce above 3,000 for the first time. This growth was essential to meeting service demand and was supported by targeted recruitment and training expansion.

We also continued to strengthen our Expressway brand, developing the business case for further investment in fleet and technology. On the school transport front, we collaborated closely with the Department of Education to pilot new eligibility criteria and support future growth, towards an ambition of serving an additional 100,000 children by 2030.

Safety remains our most paramount value. Our enhanced safety culture, informed by data and collaboration with the RSA and HSA, has helped minimise incidents and maintain high standards across all operations. We continue to champion ways in which public transport can be made safer and, in that regard, we are active members in the Department of Transport’s new safety taskforce and participate in the delivery of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy: Vision Zero.

Looking ahead, Bus Éireann’s Horizon 28 strategic plan charts our strategic direction and aligns us with national policy goals including climate action, connectivity, and rural development. We continue to benchmark against global best practices and collaborate with government, the NTA, and CIÉ to deliver world-class public transport services.

On a personal note, my tenure as CEO of Bus Éireann will conclude later this year. Over these past years, I have witnessed incredible dedication, resilience, and innovation across Bus Éireann. Our public service ethos is alive and well and for that I am deeply grateful to our employees, our leadership team, chairperson Miriam Hughes, our board, and all our stakeholders, most especially our customers. Together, we have not only met immense challenges over these past seven years but also delivered real progress for our communities across Ireland. With confidence, I will pass on the baton knowing that Bus Éireann is in a strong position to grow, to innovate, and to lead in creating a more sustainable, inclusive transport future for Ireland. The journey continues – with purpose, with pride, and commitment to providing the highest quality public transport service for our country.

T: 01 703 3446
E: info@buseireann.ie
W: buseireann.ie