If you don't drive and live rurally, ring your Local Link office. With reduced mobility, routes can be changed to collect you if you pre-book.
Quick facts
- Door-to-door
- Book through your Local Link office
- Free Travel Pass
- Accepted
- Under 5
- Free
- Wheelchair access
- Up to 90% of services
- No bus?
- Free Community Car Schemes
- Cancer patients
- Volunteer drivers and Travel2Care
The services
Regular rural buses run fixed routes linking towns, villages and national bus and rail. "Local Link door-to-door buses follow set routes but can pick you up and drop you off at home if possible. You must book ahead through your Local Link office."
"Up to 90% of Local Link services are wheelchair accessible." If you pre-book, routes can change to collect you.
Paying
"Cash and the Free Travel Pass are accepted on all Local Link services and children under 5 can travel for free." Leap Cards, including Young Adult and Student cards, give discounts, and contactless is now available in most areas.
Since 17 August 2026 some return and 7-day fares are card or app only on certain routes. "However, you can continue to buy both Adult Single and Child Single fares with cash."
Community Car Schemes
"Community Car schemes offer free transport for people in areas throughout Ireland without other public transport." Drivers are Garda-vetted volunteers; ask your Local Link office if there's one near you.
Getting to hospital
The HSE provides some transport to day hospitals and out-patients, depending on area. In Louth, Meath, Cavan and Dublin, a Local Link Health Appointment service helps: 1800 303 707.
Cancer patients: "The Volunteer Driver Service provides transport for cancer patients to and from chemotherapy treatments in hospital." The Irish Cancer Society's Travel2Care helps with costs if you have financial need and "Need to travel over 50km to a designated cancer center or approved hospital".
Common questions
Can I use my Free Travel Pass on Local Link?
Yes. Cash and the Free Travel Pass are accepted on all Local Link services.
How do I book a Local Link door-to-door bus?
Book ahead by phone or email with your Local Link office.
Is there free transport in rural areas with no bus?
Community Car Schemes offer free transport with Garda-vetted volunteer drivers, organised through Local Link.
Is there help with travel to cancer treatment?
Yes. The Irish Cancer Society's Volunteer Driver Service and Travel2Care, for people travelling over 50km with financial need.