Bus Éireann: Connecting communities
2023 was a transformative year for Bus Éireann as we reported a record-breaking 107 million passenger journeys across all services. This remarkable milestone, marking a 19.5 per cent increase from the previous year, not only signifies sustained growth but also reflects the resounding success of our Destination 2023 strategy, writes Stephen Kent, CEO of Bus Éireann.
For the first time, we surpassed the 100 million passenger journey mark, a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence.
Under the Destination 2023 strategy, we focused on providing a best-in-class user experience achieving a customer satisfaction score of 93 per cent, surpassing our strategic target of 90 per cent. Our dedication to enhancing passenger journeys led to a 28 per cent increase over the five-year period, showcasing our ability to deliver safe, reliable, and punctual services across the board.
Looking towards the future, our focus remains steadfast on sustainability and innovation. Through future-focused “forever” projects, we are poised to deliver over 2.6 million emission-free kilometres per year, supporting our mission to connect people and communities and helping to make life better.
Building on this foundation of success, we aim in our new corporate strategy, Horizon 28 – Our Vision for Green Growth, to double passenger journeys while managing growth sustainably. Central to this effort are the close partnerships and collaborations we have fostered with stakeholders and partners, including the National Transport Authority (NTA), CIÉ, the Department of Transport, and the Department of Education.
Sustainability
Early in 2023, we launched the first project under the Government’s Pathfinder Programme, the first all-electric town bus service in Athlone, eliminating over 400,000kg of annual tailpipe CO2 emissions. Building on that success, we launched in April this year the first regional city electric bus service in Limerick. This service represents a monumental shift towards a cleaner, greener future, with over 2.1 million emission-free kilometres projected for the city per year.
These landmark investments into the future of public transport infrastructure would not be possible without the support of the NTA. Their collaboration has been instrumental in propelling our electrification efforts forward.
In line with evolving sustainability reporting requirements, we are preparing to report under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in 2025, while continuing to align with international frameworks such as the Carbon Disclosures Project and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. We are also committed to social responsibility, with clear improvement targets in gender equality, wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion.
Connecting communities
As Ireland’s national bus company, we proudly operate the most extensive public transport network in the nation. Our recent success in winning an open market tender for services on the Eastern Commuter Corridor and Carlow Town underscores our commitment to expanding our reach and impact. We are particularly excited to have launched the first-ever town bus service in Carlow and its surrounding areas, a testament to our dedication to serving communities where transportation needs are paramount.
Ensuring our services are accessible to all, we have introduced a Travel Assistance Scheme in Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Waterford which has been hugely successful. I am deeply proud of the work of our travel assistants who have supported over 1,000 passengers so far in undertaking their journey with confidence.
The School Transport Scheme which Bus Éireann operates on behalf of the Department of Education, already the largest such scheme in Europe, is experiencing unprecedented growth. With the Department’s recent announcement to expand access to an additional 100,000 children by 2030, we anticipate continued growth in demand. Each school day, the scheme oversees the transport of over 162,500 children, our nation’s most precious resource, safeguarding their future by ensuring reliable access to quality education.
Future growth
Our continued enhancements of services under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan and initiatives such as Bus Connects will lead to significant expansion of the network for the people of Ireland. Working in strong partnership with the NTA, we will provide greater regional and urban connectivity while delivering on our Climate Action Plan goals.
In 2023 alone, we undertook over 80 timetable reviews in conjunction with the NTA. These reviews were complemented by the introduction of 12 enhanced routes and services as part of Connecting Ireland. This resulted in an additional 2.1 million road passenger kilometres, reflecting the growing demand for our services and the effectiveness of our efforts.
I am optimistic about the future for Bus Éireann, with substantial investments planned for the coming years under BusConnects and Connecting Ireland. I also recognise the significant effort needed to achieve our ambitious goals.
We are determined to improve gender balance among our employees, to better reflect the customers we serve. Since 2022 the overall number of female employees has increased as we work to double female participation to a fifth of all employees by 2030. Concurrently, we aim to increase fivefold the number of female supervisors to 10 per cent. We must do this by recruiting more women drivers and mechanics, supporting their growth in the company to supervisor level and beyond.
Successful recruitment of drivers and staff in a full employment economy will be key to delivering on our targets for the years to come. Over seven of 10 staff at Bus Éireann say it is a great place to work and I am committed to building on that employee engagement.
Our latest strategy sets out not only our potential for the next five years, but crucially the principles by which we achieve our goals. I am confident that we can continue to operate to the high standard of customer satisfaction that we hold ourselves to, while growing access to our services. For Bus Éireann, and the people of Ireland, success is on the horizon.
T: 01 703 3446
E: info@buseireann.ie
W: buseireann.ie
