Drivers advised to take extra care

Travel and public transport:Traffic on the roads and railways and through the State's ports and airports is expected to be exceptionally heavy today, with record numbers of people on the move.

Gardaí have advised motorists to leave additional time for journeys and to drive with extra care.

They also advised party-goers to use public transport. The main transport providers have put on extra services:

The Bus Éireann Nightrider service has been extended from its regular weekend timetable to operate Monday to Saturday over the festive period.

Services run between Dublin and Navan, Drogheda, Newbridge, Wicklow and Enfield.

Dublin Bus will stop at 9pm tonight and run a Sunday service on December 26th.

Nightlink services will operate an increasingly late schedule, up to 4.30am on New Year's Eve. For details see www.dublinbus.ie

The Quick Park car park at Santry operates from 7am to 7pm daily (Sunday: 9am to 7pm) from the Old Swords Road, and has a dedicated bus service every 20 minutes to lower Abbey Street.

The Park and Ride at Whitehall Church operates from 7am to 7pm (Sunday: 9am to 7pm) daily.

The Spawell Park and Ride runs from from 7am to 7pm daily (Sunday: 9am to 7pm). It costs €5 to park for 12 hours.

Late-night Dart services will end at 12.30am from Connolly, serving all stations to Bray, and from Pearse, serving all stations to Howth.

Luas is providing a late-night service during the Christmas period at the weekends. Red Line services will depart Connolly every half hour from 1am to 3am, and depart Tallaght from 1am to 2am.

Green Line services will leave St Stephen's Green every half hour from 1am to 3am, and depart Sandyford from 1am until 2.30am.

Iarnród Éireann expects 400,000 passenger journeys over the Christmas and New Year period on intercity rail services, with extra services today.

There will be no rail service tomorrow or on December 26th. Passengers are advised to check the timetable before travelling, at www.irishrail.ie or on 1890 778899.

City bus services in Cork and Limerick today will finish at 9pm, and between 7pm and 8pm in Galway.

There will be no bus service tomorrow, but a reduced service begins again on December 26th.