A New ‘Drink Link’ Bus Service Will Operate In 19 Counties From This Summer

A state-funded bus service will be put in place to transport people to and from rural pubs from this summer, the Irish Independent reports.

50 'drink link' buses will make around 188 weekly runs in a bid to counter social isolation in rural areas of Ireland. The routes will run mostly on weekends between 6pm and 11pm on an initial trial basis from June until September. The scheme is set to cost the government around €450,000.

Residents of Kerry, Cork, Donegal, Kildare, Waterford, Wexford, Cavan, Monaghan, Offaly and Laois will all be able to avail of the service but it's thought that it will eventually stretch to a total of 19 counties.

The move comes after years of debate on drink-driving laws in rural areas with Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae often being an outspoken advocate of more lenient laws.