Talks between Bus Éireann bosses and unions have collapsed.
It means an all-out strike at the company looks likely.
The company and trade unions have been locked in talks over pay and cost-saving measures.
Bus Eireann says it needs to save €12m or face going bust.
General Secretary of the National Bus and Rail Workers Union, Dermot O’Leary said:
“The NBRU has today put its members on notice that we will immediately engage in an all-out strike in the event that Bus Éireann move to unilaterally implement cuts to the terms and conditions of bus workers.
He continued, "The responsibility for major disruption across the transport network resides with the absentee Minister and his Department”.
