The National Transport Authority (NTA) has confirmed that a new bus service is to operate between counties Carlow and Waterford.
It comes after Bus Éireann announced that it was to cease operating three of its Expressway services from Sunday.
These services include Route 4, which covers Waterford to Dublin/Dublin Airport, Route 40 Segment, which covers Rosslare/Wexford to Waterford and Route 52, which covers to Galway.
The bus operator said the "significant" financial losses these services were incurring was the reason for making the decision.
However, the NTA has now said it has concluded what it refers to as a Public Service Obligation (PSO) determination in relation to the Route 4 Expressway service.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the NTA said: "On foot of this determination, a new subsidised PSO service, the 365, running between Waterford and Carlow will commence service on the 24 (May) to be operated initially by Bus Éireann."
The TFI 365 Route will serve all towns and villages along the corridor currently served by the Expressway Route 4 service.
These include Kilmacow, Mullinavat, Thomastown, Gowran, Paulstown, the parade stop in Muine Bheag, Leighlinbridge, Carlow bus station and Carlow College – which will be transferred to South East Technological University over the next two years.
In addition, the NTA said new stops in Thomastown, Muine Bheag and Dungarvan village will provide greater connectivity at local level.
The NTA spokesperson said: "Passengers travelling onwards to Dublin will be able to connect with existing bus and train services in Carlow.
"The NTA, in partnership with Bus Éireann, will continue to monitor and review the service to ensure it meets passenger needs."
Separately, the NTA determined the curtailment of Route 40 services between Rosslare and Waterford would result in "a reduction in the overall number of services operating along the corridor and a less even distribution of services across the day."
The spokesperson said: "While the minimum service frequencies set out under the Connecting Ireland programme continue to be met, the timetable analysis identifies periods where gaps between services increase, particularly on sections of the corridor between Wexford and Waterford.
"In light of this assessment, NTA considers that continued oversight of service provision on the corridor is required.
"We will therefore monitor service levels and examine opportunities to optimise the configuration and timing of existing services, including the redistribution or reconfiguration of PSO services where appropriate, in order to better align service delivery with the Connecting Ireland objectives for this corridor."
Meanwhile, a determination in relation to the Route 52, which covers Ballina to Galway, concluded "the immediate impact of the withdrawal would be to move the overall level of provision further away from the service standards set out under the Connecting Ireland programme."
The NTA spokesperson said: "Subsequently, however, commercial bus operator City Link has announced an immediate increase in service on their 430 route on this corridor.
"Arising from that, it is NTA's view that no further intervention is required on this corridor at this time."
More details about the new TFI 365 bus service that will operate between Carlow and Waterford from Sunday, including timetable information, can be found on the Transport for Ireland website.
