No decision made on future of some Dublin Bus services to West Tallaght
By Aura McMenamin
No decision has been made on the future of some Dublin Bus services to West Tallaght, with union representatives calling the lack of community attendance at today’s Dublin Bus/Luas Community Forum ‘atrocious’.
The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) have called for some bus services to West Tallaght to be pulled, following almost 30 incidents of antisocial behaviour since July.
In August, Ringsend bus depot manager Paul Larkin was on record saying that he had a duty of care to both drivers and customers and ‘would have no hesitation in pulling the service from the area’ and said participation was needed from the community’.
NBRU representatives said that drivers have approached managers in the Ringsend and Clontarf bus depots and ask to be taken off the route, and in some cases have transferred from the garage.
Dublin Bus Management reiterated at today’s meeting that the were keen to keep the service to West Tallaght, but that the responsibility was on community gardai and local representatives.
Dublin Bus management stated that the damage to bus windows were forcing the buses in Ringsend to be pulled from service during the week, and said that a third of antisocial incidents since January occurred on routes in Tallaght.
The meeting was attended by reps from Dublin Bus, the NBRU, SIPTU, Transdev and community gardai. The lack of attendance from the community was criticised by the NBRU, who called for an emergency meeting next week to discuss the issue again.
While antisocial behaviour has caused the company to curtail or reroute the 27 service, a list of incidents reveals that similar issues with stone throwing and disputes between passengers and drivers affects other routes in West Tallaght, including the 77a, 65b, 65 and 56a.
A record of incidents seen by the Echo show five out of 12 antisocial incidents in August occurred during the 77a route in Kiltalown, Springfield and Belgard Square North.
