Historically, bus services in Dublin were operated mainly by the Dublin United Transport Company, which was incorporated into CIÉ in 1945. Today, two subsidiary companies of state-owned Córas Iompair Éireann operate most of the bus services in and around Dublin but many other private companies also provide services. Most routes are awarded to the state-owned firms by non-tendered direct award ; but recently a portion of both firms routes were offered for public tender. Neither firm retained these routes, with Go-Ahead Ireland winning both contracts Some additional routes are tendered where a need is identified by the National Transport Authority. These are public service obligation routes and occasionally replace sections of withdrawn or altered Bus Éireann Expressway services.
City and local services
State-owned
Dublin Bus operates the vast majority of bus services in Dublin, including night services on Fridays and Saturdays and some limited 24h services.
State-tendered
Go-Ahead Ireland operate approximately 10% of the total Dublin network, primarily consisting of routes transferred from Dublin Bus after it won a competitive tender process.
Go-Ahead additionally won the tender for the 197 service from Swords to Ashbourne which began operating on 24 November 2019. This does not operate as part of the Dublin network.
Aircoach operates 3 express routes from Dublin Airport in the Dublin area, including the city centre as well as other destinations which connects with many of Dublin's major hotels.
Airport Hopper operate two services between Tallaght and Maynooth and Dublin Airport
Ashbourne Connect operate services between Ashbourne & Ratoath and the city
Balbriggan Express operates between Balbriggan and the city
Swords Express Between Dublin City Centre and Swords Manor via Applewood, Pavilion Shopping centre Swords,River Valley,Boroimhe using the Dublin Port Tunnel.
Longer distance and express services
State-owned
Bus Éireann operates many long-distance and express services to/from Dublin.
State-tendered
Go-Ahead Ireland won a competitive tender to take over a group of services from Dublin to the County Kildare area from Bus Éireann which began operations between 1 December 2019 and 19 January 2020, replacing Bus Éireann on these routes
Bernard Kavanagh & Sons operate a National Transport Authority PSO service between Kilkenny and Dublin
Private
Aircoach run 18 express non-stop coach service a day between Dublin and Cork with a journey time of three hours to/from Dublin city centre and three and a half hours to/from Dublin Airport. They also operate 22 daily non-stop services from Belfast to Dublin City via Dublin Airport.
Bernard Kavanagh & Sons operates a daily service between Tipperary town and Dublin city centre.
CityLink operates a frequent daily service between Galway, Dublin city centre and Dublin Airport
Collins Coaches operates a commuter service between Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan and Dublin city centre, with some services extended to/from Clones
Dublin Coach run services to Dublin Airport from Belfast, Cork, Ennis, Limerick and Killarney to Dublin Airport, with some services hubbing via the Red Cow Luas stop.
GoBus operates daily direct services between both Cork and Galway to Dublin city centre and Dublin Airport.
JJ Kavanagh & Sons operates a number of routes between Waterford, Clonmel, Limerick and Dublin City Centre, some also serving Dublin Airport.
John McGinley Coaches operates services from Co. Donegal to Dublin Airport and the city centre.
Wexford Bus Operates express coaches throughout the day and night connecting Wexford, Enniscorthy, Ferns, Camolin, Gorey and Arklow with Dublin City and Airport
