Patsy Dans Bar, DonegalFlickr
A new state-funded 'drink-link' bus will service 50 communities in rural Ireland.
Minister for Transport Shane Ross is due to announce the service this week which will help slash rates of drink driving across the country.
According to the Sunday Independent, the 'drink-link' will operate between 6-11pm mainly on weekends, ferrying punters to and from the pub.
Martins of Kildoon, Kildare (Image via Flickr)
Routes will be available in selected areas of Counties Kerry, Cork, Donegal, Kildare, Waterford, Wexford, Cavan, Monaghan, Offaly and Laois.
Ahead of its official announcement, it is estimated that the service will operate from June until December.
Twitter users have had mixed reactions to the news:
It's a great little country all the same, almost half a million euro in public money over 6 months to keep people drinking, subsidising the drink industry and vintners just so we can have safer roads. https://t.co/BOJiicYZRH
— Ireland Unlocked (@IrelandUnlocked) May 6, 2018
Meanwhile in Ireland we are spending half a million of taxpayers Euros on bringing people to the pub. https://t.co/WRFZknOIe8
— Gareth (@GarethSoye) May 7, 2018
Mental stuff. Rather than creative solutions from the ground up this idiot is paying half a million for a 'drink link'.
— Conor Madden (@ConorMadd) May 7, 2018
Jeez: one of you drives and picks up 4 mates. Next time someone else drives. It’s not rocket science... https://t.co/sO4ECXpQTa
— Louise Allcock (@DrShmoo) May 6, 2018
@Philip_Ryan isolation in Rural Ireland is a major problem. We dont have the Luas, taxi's or public transport on our back door to ceater for people in Towns and Villages in Rural Ireland after 6pm. Hopefully this will be the start of something positive. https://t.co/ByJT037oAg
— Cllr. John Leahy (@johnleahyOY) May 6, 2018