Travel

Documentation
Everyone entering Ireland must have a valid passport or, in the case of European Union Member States, a national identity card. Citizens of some countries will also require an entry visa for Ireland.  For more information either check directly with your local Irish Embassy, or visit the website for the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie/home/index.aspx?id=8605) which lists all countries whose passport holders do not require an entry visa (under “Who needs a Visa?”).
 
Please note that it can take around 6 to 8 weeks to process a visa application and early application is therefore recommended. The Local Organising Committee, International Foster Care Conference, or their agents, cannot accept any responsibility for visa applications. Where a delegate is unable to attend because of failure to obtain a visa on time, the normal cancellation policy for the registration fee and accommodation costs will apply.
 
 
Travelling to Dublin
Dublin is directly accessible by air from airports in the UK, Continental Europe and on both the east and west coasts of the USA. There are more than 36 scheduled airlines currently using Dublin Airport, providing flights to and from 7 domestic, 29 UK, 36 Continental European and 9 Inter-Continental destinations.  For more details about flights to and from Dublin Airport, visit the Dublin Airport website at http://www.dublinairport.com/index.asp.
 
Dublin Airport is located 12km north of Dublin City Centre, with regular bus and coach services from the airport to Dublin City (see below).
 
It is also possible to travel to Dublin by ferry from the ports of Holyhead, Liverpool and the Isle of Man in the UK.  Other Irish ports are served by ferry services from Scotland, Wales, England and France.  For more details of the possible ferry services to Ireland visit the Direct Ferries website at http://www.directferries.ie/.
 
Dublin has two ferry terminals – Dublin Port is located near to the city centre, with bus services to other parts of the city; the Dun Laoghaire ferry terminal, south of the city, is easily reached by a 20 minute car or DART train journey.
 
 
Access from Dublin Airport to Hotels and UCD
There are a number of private and public bus services that operate from outside the airport arrivals terminal:
Aircoach (www.aircoach.ie)
This is a privately run bus service, which operates between the airport and a number of city hotels and other locations, including the UCD campus. The Aircoach buses are usually blue in colour, and services depart from the airport every 15mins, with the same frequency of service for the return trip.
Cost: €12 euro return, €7 euro one-way.
 
UCD Accommodation, The Radisson, Stillorgan Park Hotel, Bewley’s Hotel and Ballsbridge Inn all have Aircoach stops directly in front of each hotel.
 
Please note that there are two different routes in which the Aircoach takes. One which goes to the Radisson, Stillorgan Park and UCD Accommodation and the one which goes to the Ballsbridge Inn and Bewley’s Hotel.
 
For the UCD campus. After getting off the bus, walk back to the traffic lights just before the bus stop, and cross onto the bridge over the main carriageway.  The entrance to the UCD campus is now directly ahead of you – once on campus follow appropriate signs to the accommodation blocks.
 
The Days Hotel is slightly out of the main line of public transport. There are three options to getting there. 1 - Take the Aircoach to O’Connel Street, get off and take one of the following  public buses 14, 14A, 15, 15A and 15B. 2 – Take the Aircoach to Donnybrook and get a taxi to the hotel, cost €7 approx for the taxi. 3- Take a taxi directly to the hotel approx €40.
 
When boarding the bus, let the driver know at which hotel you are staying, and he will let you know when to get off.
 
Bus stops for the return journey are generally directly opposite the stop at which you get off the bus.  Note that for UCD, the bus stop is at the top of the slip-road back down to the main carriageway on the UCD side of the main carriageway.
 
 
Patton Flyer (http://www.thepattonflyer.ie/timetable-2.htm)
This is a privately run bus service. It operates between Dublin Airport and Dalkey and the buses are either a grey or white colour. This bus leaves the airport once an hour on the hour. More details can be found on the Patton Flyer website.
Cost: €12 euro return, €7 euro one-way.
 
This is the best service to use from Dublin Airport to the Tara Towers Hotel in Blackrock.  Ask the driver for the Tara Towers Hotel, and the bus will stop immediately outside the hotel – but note that the hotel is on the right-hand side of the road, so you will need to cross the road from where the bus stops.
 
 
Travel Within Dublin
Buses
Transport from UCD into Dublin City Centre (Dublincity) is good using the local bus services.  Buses leave from outside the main UCD entrance, with the most convenient services being 46a, 46b, 46c, 10, 10a, 3, 11,11a, 11b, 84 and 17 all serve UCD. These will take you to stops close to the main shopping areas, Trinity College, etc. The17 service links UCD with Blackrock (Tara Towers Hotel).  For a map of the UCD campus and the surrounding area go to http://www.ucd.ie/maps/dublinmap.htm.
 
For those staying at the Stillorgan Park Hotel, transport to Dublin City Centre is available using the same bus services as listed above for UCD.
 
The bus service that provides transport between The Radisson Hotel, The Stillorgan Park Hotel and the City Centre are the 84 and the 46A:
 
The majority of other Dublin bus services terminate in Busáras (Central Bus Station, Dublin) from where it is a short walk to O'Connell Street for connecting buses to UCD.
 
Note that exact change is needed for the buses: example costs are €1.80 single from UCD into the City Centre.  Alternatively you can buy a Weekly Bus Pass on campus at the local shop for €23. 
 
For further information about the local bus services visit the www.dublinbus.ie website.  Further information about buses for getting to and from UCD is also available on the UCD website (http://www.ucd.ie/gettingtoucd.htm)
 

The Dart
This is a train service that runs along the coast of Dublin. The closest stop to UCD is Sydney Parade or Booterstown (equidistant between the two). The service brings you right into Dublin City Centre. For further information and times visit the IrishRail website (http://www.irishrail.ie/home/).
 

Taxis
There is a taxi rank located outside the arrivals hall of Dublin Airport.
Cost approx: €40 to UCD
 
Taxis tend to be quite expensive in Dublin but there are many taxi ranks around the City so it is generally easy to find a taxi! As in most cities, taxis can be ordered or just flagged down in the street. Phone numbers for a range of taxi companies will be available in the Conference programme.