Bus Eireann has submitted plans for a major redevelopment of Dublin's Busáras.
It includes plans to become a fully accessible station with toilet facilities and changing rooms for those with special needs, a new entrance on Store Street, and a conference facility for 140 attendees.
Bus Éireann says that will be used as a training venue, and could be available for hire.
The works would be carried out on a phased basis and are mostly internal, meaning bus and coach services would not be disrupted.
Architect Dermot Bannon is among those listed on the design team for the project.
Today we've submitted a restoration & development plan for Busáras to Dublin City Council
These plans would revitalise Busáras improving the customer experience, protecting the fabric of the Bus Station & greatly improving facilities & accessibility for customers & employees (2/2 pic.twitter.com/pDRNOPQLXj— Bus Éireann (@Buseireann) September 23, 2021
Bus Éireann says it will be the most significant development work in the bus station since it opened in 1953.
Stephen Kent, Chief Executive Officer, Bus Éireann, says: "Busáras is an extremely important building for Bus Éireann, facilitating more than one million passenger journeys a year. We are very conscious of its heritage significance as Ireland’s first purpose-built bus station, designed by Michael Scott, and its stature internationally as one of Ireland’s most prominent modernist buildings. We are keen to both preserve and revitalise the bus station and ensure it is able to continue to fulfil its original function.
"Earlier this year Bus Éireann published our first sustainability strategy. The redevelopment and investment in our bus stations is an important element. From a customer perspective we want to make bus travel the first choice for people, working towards providing a service that is 100% fully accessible and 100% emissions free."
As well as restoration works on the renowned mosaic tiles, the redevelopment plans will provide significant improvements for customers. Busáras will become a fully accessible bus station with accessible toilet facilities as well as providing fully accessible changing rooms for those with special needs, a new entrance from Store Street will be fully accessible and independent of the bus station, and the building will offer a fully accessible seated conference facility within the basement theatre for 140 attendees. This will be used by Bus Éireann as a training venue and could be available for hire. Ticket machines will be relocated.
