More than one million people are estimated to be on the move this Christmas by plane, ship and train, as unprecedented numbers enter and leave the State.
The three main airports - Dublin, Cork and Shannon - all report increased passenger numbers, with the total expected to be 600,000. Dublin Airport forecasts a 13 per cent increase on last year, as it handles 500 extra flights to carry an anticipated 475,000 passengers in and out of Ireland.
The growing numbers travelling are reflected in a sharp rise in business among the regional airports.
At Kerry Airport, Farranfore, an estimated 10,000 passengers will travel in and out, compared with 4,000 last year. Knock Airport in Mayo also expects to record an increase.
Increased capacity is expected to mean a 60 per cent rise in passenger traffic for Irish Ferries, with about 80,000 people and 17,000 cars using its services. Stena Sealink expects to record a small increase on last year, transporting 70,000 passengers and 16,000 cars.
There will be no ferry services tomorrow (Christmas Day) or on St Stephen's Day.
About 200,000 people are expected to use Bus Eireann services, and there will be extra buses on all major routes today. However, local services will finish earlier than usual.
Services in Cork, Galway and Limerick will finish at 9 p.m. today. Last services in Waterford are at 8.30 p.m., except for the Waterford-Tramore route, where the last bus is at 9 p.m. The usual last buses on the following routes to and from Dublin will not run: Ashbourne, Kells, Athboy, Kildare, Newbridge, Clane-Sallins-Naas and Wicklow.
There will be no buses tomorrow but special expressway services will operate on St Stephen's Day from Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick on most main routes.
Fifty special trains will help carry Iarnrod Eireann's estimated quarter of a million passengers during the Christmas period. However, today the normal last trains on several lines have been cancelled. The last services on the following routes will be: Dublin-Cork, 7.05 p.m.; Dublin-Belfast, 7 p.m.; Belfast-Dublin, 6.10 p.m.; and Tralee-Cork, 5.45 p.m.
There will be no train services tomorrow or St Stephen's Day.
DART, Arrow and suburban rail services from Dublin will operate as normal today until 9 p.m. The last DART trains will be at 9.09 p.m. from Howth and 9 p.m. from Bray, both terminating in Connolly Station. There will be no service tomorrow or St Stephen's Day.