Go Ahead to create 165 jobs with expansion of Ballymount depot
PUBLIC transport provider Go Ahead Ireland has revealed its plans to create an additional 165 jobs through an expansion to its Ballymount depot.
Go Ahead, which launched into Ireland back in 2018, has applied for planning permission to expand its depot from 125 to 221 bus spaces and provide electric vehicle (EV) charging points.
In a workplace travel plan document submitted along with the application, it stated that there is currently 415 staff members employed at the Ballymount depot.
That is comprised as 320 bus drivers with 35 engineers and 60 office staff.
It stated that in the case of the subject development, there is expected to be an increase to 580 people working out of the depot in Ballymount.
This would bring the number of drivers to 475 with 105 support staff.
There are 25 bus routes supported from the Ballymount depot, which has storage and parking for 40 single decker and 85 double decker buses.
The proposed development will comprise of an increase in bus parking from 125 spaces to 221 spaces – which includes the addition of 45 new EV charging points.
Plans show that the bus company intends to decrease standard car parking spaces with an increase in accessible spaces and EV charging points.
In a table, it showed that up to 50 percent of drivers could be working on a particular day, with a survey showing that 155 of the 164 drivers who took part in the survey travel to work in a car. It showed that 192 of the 208 people who took part in the survey drive to work at the depot.
The company has created a five year plan to try promote and encourage access to the depot for staff, with an expected increase, via bus through converting the 56A bus route.
It described the frequency of the route as “relatively poor” in its existing format.
The National Transport Authority’s 56A passes by the depot and the strategy is to transfer that route to a Go Ahead 71 bus route and improve the frequency.
Go Ahead is intending to kick-off construction in 2022 with the installation of electrical charging element to meet new EV buses the following year – pending permission.
A decision is due from South Dublin County Council on September 27, 2021.
