NTA seeks funding for Letterkenny bus service

The National Transport Authority (NTA) confirmed at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport that it is seeking funding for a dedicated Letterkenny town bus service as part of Budget 2027.

The announcement came yesterday during discussions at the Oireachtas Transport Committee.

Letterkenny’s previous town bus service was privately run under a licence issued by the NTA and was ceased earlier this year, despite the need for a new town bus service identified in 2024.

Just one day before the NTA announcement, at Tuesday’s Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District meeting, Cllr Gerry McMonagle called for a meeting with the NTA to seek clarity on the delays and to obtain an updated timeline for the delivery of the long-awaited service.

“We don’t know where we are… It’s imperative that we get this meeting,” he said. “I’ve been talking to our road people about this; they’re also in the dark

Cllr Kavanagh, along with his party colleague Senator Manus Boyle, has been campaigning for the return of a town bus service in Letterkenny.

Welcoming the NTA’s announcement, Cllr Kavanagh said: “I am delighted that the NTA has confirmed it is proposing a town bus service for Letterkenny as part of the upcoming Budget.

“I am now calling on the Minister to provide the necessary funding to ensure this much-needed service becomes a reality

“Together with Senator Manus Boyle, I have been working to secure a town bus service for Letterkenny, and it is vital that this proposal moves forward. With traffic congestion continuing to impact commuters, families, businesses, and visitors, a local bus service would provide an important alternative to car travel and help make getting around our town easier.

“While a town bus service will not solve Letterkenny’s traffic challenges on its own, it will certainly help to reduce congestion, improve connectivity, and support more sustainable transport options.

“This is a significant step in the right direction, and I will continue working to ensure that Letterkenny gets the public transport investment it deserves.”

The development comes as further investment in Letterkenny’s transport infrastructure was announced earlier this week, with €9 million in funding allocated towards the proposed Letterkenny Transport Hub under the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund.

The NTA’s proposal for a dedicated town bus service will now need to secure the necessary funding through Budget 2027 before the service can proceed.