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Bus Eireann's Independent Travel Support (ITS), service, formerly known as Travel Assistance Scheme, assists passengers with additional needs to develop skills to use the Transport for Ireland (TFI) public transport independently and was launched in Limerick at the Limerick Strand Hotel on March 27, 2025. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick Bus Eireann's Independent Travel Support (ITS), service, formerly known as Travel Assistance Scheme, assists passengers with additional needs to develop skills to use the Transport for Ireland (TFI) public transport independently and was launched in Limerick at the Limerick Strand Hotel on March 27, 2025. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick

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WATCH Independent Travel Support service assists passengers with additional needs to develop skills to use public transport independently

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Independent Travel Support (ITS), service launch – Pictured are Allen Parker, Chief Customer Officer, Bus Eireann, Emily O’Reilly, NTA Customer Experience Officer, Naomi Rooney, National Transport Authority, Michelle Peacocke, Head of Customer Experience, Bus Eireann, Christian Clarke, Accessibility Manager, Bus Eireann. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick

Independent Travel Support (ITS), service offers an ITS assistant to travel with you and train you how to travel independently, until you are confident to travel alone

Independent Travel Support (ITS), service, was launched in Limerick at the Limerick Strand Hotel on March 27, 2025. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick

The Independent Travel Support (ITS) service was launched in Limerick at the Limerick Strand Hotel on March 27, 2025 by Bus Eireann and the National Transport Authority (NTA).

The Independent Travel Support (ITS), service, formerly known as Travel Assistance Scheme, assists passengers with additional needs to develop skills to use the Transport for Ireland (TFI) public transport independently.

An ITS assistant will travel with you and train you how to travel independently, until you are confident to travel alone.


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The Independent Travel Support service started in Dublin 15 years ago and helped people get to the most important destination of all … Freedom.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has now expanded it to Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

The ITS service is free of charge and is available to people aged eighteen and over.

In Dublin, the ITS service is managed by Dublin Bus on behalf of the NTA and operates on all TFI services across Dublin Bus, Go Ahead Ireland, Luas and DART in the Greater Dublin Area.

An ITS assistant will travel with you and train you how to travel independently, until you are confident to travel alone. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick

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

A Limerick Customer commented, “ITS assistant’s Seán and Rose were both very professional, patient, understanding and friendly. They developed relationships very quickly with the people they supported. The Independent Travel Support service has given the person the independence to travel on the bus which helps with our day service as the person supported does not have to rely as much on staff to get somewhere. It has given the person supported a huge boost in confidence and it has given them more independence to travel around Limerick City.

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.

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 said “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.”

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 [email protected]

Pictures: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.