Pre-booking Local Link bus service to be piloted in rural areas

The pre-booking pilot scheme will run across counties Kerry, Mayo, and Limerick, and in the Killarney, Achill, and Rhebogue areas. 

People living in a selection of rural areas will be soon able to pre-book bus services to pick them up from their home or their local town, under a new pilot scheme due to be rolled out.

The scheme would allow individuals to use an app to book a Local Link bus service to pick them up, similar to the way taxi apps such as FreeNow work.

The pilot scheme is set to run across counties Kerry, Mayo, and Limerick, in the Killarney town, Achill, and Rhebogue areas, respectively.

People using the scheme will be able to use the app to pre-book their trip, but will also be able to make a booking through their closest Local Link office.

For Local Link drivers using the scheme, a separate app is being set up that will provide them with information around pick-up and drop-off points.

The new scheme, which is due to be announced on Wednesday, has been welcomed by James Lawless, the outgoing junior transport minister.  

“I’ve always been a keen advocate of using the best and most innovative tech available to enhance public services for our population,” said Mr Lawless.

This latest pilot is something I support as a minister for transport because it can make a real difference in ordinary people’s lives, especially the elderly or those living in rural areas, who may feel they have been neglected in the past.

“I wish the scheme every success, and hope it is embraced by passengers so we can see it rolled out nationwide.”

The plan itself is only a pilot, with the proposal set to be trialled for a year.

One Government source said that the service would cater to people living in rural areas who might not be able to drive.

The source cited an example of an elderly couple looking to get a bus to their local bingo hall as potential beneficiaries of the pilot scheme.