Up to 230 thousand passengers face major disruption this morning, as an all out strike Dublin bus has officially started.

Nitelink services were cancelled since midnight and unions say pickets are being placed at all Dublin bus garages from this morning onwards.

Gardai have also issued a warning to motorists to beware of extra cars on the roads and to use alternative public transport where possible.

The strike follows workers rejecting a deal of nearly 12 million euro in cost savings by the company.

Meanwhile,the Public Transport Minister, has described today’s strike by Dublin Bus workers as a ‘bad day for public transport in Ireland.’

Alan Kelly says tourists, match-goers, festival-goers and members of the general public are being discommoded because of strike action-which he says is deeply regrettable and unnecessary.

Minister Kelly is appealing to all sides to come together to try and solve their problems.

The former president of the National Taxi Drivers Union, Tommy Gorman, says taxi's will pick up the slack