Bus services pulled three times this week from local estates
By Aura McMenamin
Dublin Bus was forced to pull buses from three separate routes in Tallaght and Clondalkin due to three separate incidents of anti-social behaviour this week.
In Tallaght last night (Wednesday), the 27 terminated early at the Cheeverstown Road from 7:15pm to 8:15pm.
This followed the pulling of buses on Monday when the 27 did not serve Jobstown for the night due to antisocial behaviour that occurred sometime after 8pm.
In a statement from the bus operator, a spokesperson said: “We wish to advise customers that due to anti-social behaviour Route 27 will not serve Jobstown for the rest of the night.
“Bus will operate via the N81 and terminate at Killinarden Heights (rear of the Jobstown House).”
Meanwhile, in Clondalkin similar actions forced the 40 and 76 routes to be curtailed, with buses not serving Neilstown on Monday shortly after 9pm.
In a statement, Dublin Bus said: “We wish to advise customers that due to anti-social behaviour Routes 40/76 will not serve Neilstown Road for the rest of the night.
“Buses will use Coldcut Road, Fonthill Road to normal route.”
A Dublin Bus spokesperson told The Echo: “Dublin Bus has a strong working relationship with An Garda Síochána and the emergency services.
“In the run up to the Halloween period, we work together to deliver safety demonstrations and talks which particularly target young people. This is part of our Schools Education Programme.
“The work of our School and Community Co-ordinators has also proven highly successful in encouraging young people to respect their bus and has assisted greatly in the reduction of incidents of anti-social behaviour”.
A member of the National Bus and Rail Union told The Echo that union representatives had met with garda ahead of Halloween to decide how to tackle antisocial behaviour issues.
He commended the Garda’s plans for monitoring anti-social behaviour”.
He said he would instruct drivers who were subject to missiles being thrown at the bus or other types of anti-social behaviour to curtail the bus.
He said: “If a driver is getting bricked out of it, we’re going to tell him to pull in. We want to ensure the safety of our drivers.”
