Tourists visiting Newgrange, one of the country's major tourist attractions have found themselves stranded because of what has been called "an absolutely ridiculous" bus service provided by Bus Éireann.
The timetable glitch, which sees visitors left at the centre sometimes just minutes before the last bus back to Drogheda, has been criticised by Senator Dominic Hannigan.
He asked if the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, who also lives in the Boyne Valley, "was visiting the pyramids in Egypt would he be left to have to hitchhike back to your hotel?"
Bus Éireann has confirmed that the last scheduled bus from the Brú na Bóinne visitors' centre into Drogheda, some 8km away, departs sometime before the centre closes for the day.
During the summer when visitor numbers are at their peak, the centre remains open until 7pm, but the last bus to Drogheda is at 5.45pm.
The autumn/winter schedule is now in use and the last bus leaves for Drogheda at 4.45pm, 15 minutes before the centre closes.
About 200,000 people pass through the centre each year and in 2005, 127,000 visited Newgrange.
According to Labour Senator Hannigan some tourists who cannot afford taxis "are walking or hitchhiking to Drogheda. It is a ridiculous way to treat visitors to our country, especially when this is one of our major attractions. Sometimes even the staff have to get taxis home".
The problem only affects people using the scheduled public bus service and not those on Bus Éireann organised coach tours.
The company has confirmed that "the situation is as described" and, as a result of the problems caused by this, it is now "reviewing our network in that part of Co Meath and we will be seeking a way to improve the situation." The review was welcomed by Senator Hannigan, who was yesterday appointed as spokesman on commuter issues for Labour: "I am delighted the company is being so proactive."