Passenger numbers across State-supported public transport operators increased by 3.6% in 2015.
All operators saw a growth in figures, with Luas recording the largest growth among operators last year, at 6.1%.
Over 34m passengers used the light rail tram system across the year, and Luas passenger numbers have now grown for five consecutive years.
The data from the National Transport Authority shows that Dublin Bus carried more than 119m passengers in 2015 (up 2.8% year-on-year), representing over half of all public transport passengers in Ireland.
This growth comes despite the on-going Luas Cross City construction works in Dublin city centre.
Meanwhile, Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail experienced growth of 5.3% to 39.8m passengers, while Bus Éireann figures rose 1.7% with the operator carrying over 30m passengers last year.
Commenting on the figures, CEO of the National Transport Authority Anne Graham said that whole-sector products, such as the Leap Card, Real Time Passenger Information, and integrated transport mapping “have helped boost passenger numbers right across the sector, by making transport easier for people to use.
“The Luas Cross City project will be a major focus for us in this current year, managing major construction works through the heart of Dublin while keeping the city open for business.
“We will be progressing our open-market tendering for 10% of the Dublin and national bus routes, opening the Phoenix Park tunnel to passenger trains to bring new routes to people travelling into Dublin from Kildare, and we will be closely examining and improving bus and rail services, and bringing new bus fleet vehicles, in Dublin and throughout Ireland,” she added.
Meanwhile, Dublin Chamber of Commerce said the sharp rise in public transport journeys in 2015 is further proof of why the next government must prioritise increasing investment in public transport.
Chamber CEO Gina Quin said: "Our transport system is considerably behind where it needs to be. The increase in public transport usage is predominantly the result of a fast-growing workforce.
"With the economy growing at a considerable pace, the Government must show ambition to ensure that public transport infrastructure is capable of meeting the requirements of the further growth opportunities that will come Ireland's way," she added.
