From Thursday 23 December, Nitelink buses in Dublin will stop running indefinitely. The bus services were due to run in the city centre over the Christmas and New Year period.

The Nitelink service returned in October alongside the re-opening of nightclubs and late bars. It was scheduled to run fully on Thursday 16, Friday 17, Saturday 18, Thursday 23, and Thursday 30 December, as well as on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Although it is expected to be a quieter Christmas due to Covid-19 restrictions, the lack of public transport services over the holidays will leave many hospitality and retail workers with very few travel options. Last departures will be at 21:00 on Christmas Eve, and a limited weekend timetable will operate until January 3.

Pubs and restaurants must close at 20:00 while indoor cultural and sporting events, such as concerts or cinemas, must be limited to 50 per cent capacity or 1,000 people, whichever is lower. The measures came into effect this week as part of Government efforts to curb the spread of the Omicron variant.

In previous years before Covid-19, the Nitelink was often expanded during Christmas and New Year’s from early December to provide transport from the city centre during the night.

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