The Expressway bus company said it will increase its fares later this month to minimise the impact of rising costs on the business and to incentivise online ticket purchase.
Expressway, operated by Bus Éireann, said the fare increases are its first since 2018.
The bus company said that single fares will increase by an average of 6% and standard return fares will increase by 12%.
It said these fare increases will impact all standard fares, which represent one third of its customers.
It also said that day return ticket options, which account for less than 7% of Expressway ticket purchases, will end on all routes.
Meanwhile, a new 5% discount will be available on all ticket purchases made online on expressway.ie.
The changes will come into effect from 21 October.
Expressway noted that young people and free travel pass holders account for a considerable portion of its passengers.
It said that young people aged from 19 to 23 and students over the age of 24 will only pay 50% of the standard fare once they are registered with a Young Adult or Student Leap Card.
Free travel pass holders will continue to travel free of charge, it added.
Expressway operates 270 daily departures and serves over 200 communities across the island of Ireland.
Eleanor Farrell, Chief Commercial Officer at Bus Éireann, said that like many businesses, the company was facing challenges posed by significant cost increases of 20%-40% across its cost base, including utilities, maintenance materials and insurance.
"Like many commercial businesses today, significant and unprecedented increases in our cost base are a reality we are faced with," Ms Farrell said.
"While difficult, we must take decisions to protect the business in the interest of our services, our customers and the more than 200 communities that benefit from the connectivity Expressway provides. Taking these difficult decisions now will enable Expressway to minimise the impact of these very challenging times on both our customers and our wider commercial position over the medium-term," she said.
