Donegal County Council has unveiled formal plans for a new transport hub in Letterkenny, aiming to consolidate regional transit on a 3.3-acre site on Pearse Road.
The project, which has secured €9 million in initial funding, seeks to replace fragmented bus stops with a 14-bay facility featuring passenger amenities.
The proposed development targets the long-vacant site of the former Bacon Factory, which ceased operations in the 1980s and functioned as a council roads depot until 2008. According to Donegal Daily, the facility will increase capacity, as the existing 33-metre bus lay-by at Station Roundabout currently struggles to manage demand from 30,000 monthly passengers across 22 routes.
Allocating €9 Million for the New Bus Hub
- Capital allocation for the hub currently stands at €9 million, with a separate €700,000 tender for design and engineering services closing on November 6, 2026.
- The facility will provide 14 bus bays, including five dedicated to wheelchair ramp deployment, addressing safety concerns identified in an independent Road Safety Audit.
- Operational capacity focuses on TFI Local Link and private operators, with potential future integration for Bus Éireann services pending final agreements.
The council’s proposal moves away from long-stay parking at the site, instead pointing to an inventory of 1,460 existing spaces in seven nearby car parks.
| Metric | Proposed Specification |
|---|---|
| Total Site Area | 3.3 Acres |
| Bus Bay Capacity | 14 Bays |
| Amenities Building | 175 Square Metres |
| Short-stay Parking | 16 Standard Spaces |
| Accessible Parking | 3 Spaces |
The project is currently progressing through the Part 8 planning process, a statutory requirement for local authority developments. Members of the public are invited to examine the design drawings and transport assessments at the Letterkenny Public Services Centre or the County House in Lifford. Consultation remains open until Tuesday, December 8, 2026, with formal submissions accepted by the council until 4:30pm on Wednesday, December 23, 2026.
While the planned Letterkenny Town Bus service is slated to stop along Pearse Road, it will not enter the hub itself. While the council’s Letterkenny Plan & Local Transport Plan 2023-2029 provides the strategic framework for this development, the site layout includes access arrangements between Pearse Road and Isle Lane.
The council’s design team has already modified the site layout to incorporate all seven improvement recommendations from the independent Road Safety Audit, specifically regarding pedestrian access and drop-off zones.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
