Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (NTA) launch the extension of the Independent Travel Support (ITS) service to Limerick

• Formerly known as the Travel Assistance Scheme, this service assists passengers aged 18 years and over with additional needs to develop skills to use the Transport for Ireland (TFI) public transport network independently.
• The Independent Travel Support (ITS) service has operated in Dublin since 2008, was extended to Cork in 2022 and has since expanded to support passengers in the cities of Waterford, Galway and Limerick.
• In 2024, Bus Éireann announced a significant milestone in its commitment to accessible and inclusive travel with the 1,000th assist as part of the Independent Travel Support service.

Bus Eireann and the National Transport Authority (NTA) have officially launched the extension of the Independent Travel Support service in Limerick.

An ITS assistant travels with the passenger

The Independent Travel Support (ITS) service assists passengers over 18 with additional needs to use public transport with independence.  As part of the service, an ITS assistant travels with the passenger and trains them how to travel independently, until they are confident to travel alone.

Free of Charge

The service is free of charge and open between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday by calling Transport for Ireland on LoCall 0818 294 015 or by emailing independent.travel@buseireann.ie.

In Dublin, ITS is managed by Dublin Bus on behalf of the NTA and operates across all TFI services operated by Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland, Luas, and DART in the Dublin Area and has been in place since 2008.

In Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway, ITS is managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the NTA and operates on TFI services operated by Iarnród Éireann, Cork Commuter services, Bus Éireann, Dublin Coach, City Direct and TFI Local Link.

Empowering all passengers to travel independently with confidence

Naomi Rooney, Transport Accessibility Manager, stated: “We are delighted to support the expansion of the Independent Travel Support service to Limerick. At the NTA, we are dedicated to enhancing the accessibility of public transport across the TFI network. The introduction of this service in Limerick City marks a significant step toward a fully accessible transport system, empowering all passengers to travel independently with confidence.”

Allen Parker, Chief Customer Officer of Bus Éireann: “Bus Éireann is delighted to support the extension of the TFI Independent Travel Support service in Limerick. The service is helping users to travel independently on public transport and regain or build the confidence to use our services allowing them to meet friends, get to appointments, and do all the day-to-day things they need to do. The service is growing from strength to strength, and Bus Éireann is thrilled to have supported so many passengers and we are committed to continuing this essential service. “

Further Information

The Independent Travel Support service is one of a number of initiatives being taken by the NTA to improve accessibility to public transport in Ireland. This includes investment in fully accessible vehicles on urban PSO bus services and accessible bus stops.

According to the most recent Census, in April 2022 in Limerick, more than 47,000 people (23% of the county’s population) reported experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to any extent.
Of these, 18,422 people (9% of the county’s population) reported experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to a great extent or a lot.

For more information, please visit: Independent Travel Support – Transport for Ireland