Dublin Bus route hit by public disorder

A SOUTHSIDE TD has called for a dedicated transport police force to patrol Dublin Bus services after the company was forced to alter a Tallaght route due to anti-social behaviour.

Deputy John Lahart (FF) said various measures must be examined to better protect passengers that are experiencing repeated incidents on public transport in local communities.

Deputy Lahart was speaking after what he described as a

“surge

? in public disorder on route 27 serving Dublin Mid-West.

Dublin Bus was forced to change the route of the 27 bus in Tallaght due to recent incidents in the Brookfield area. 

“Ensuring that public transport is a safe and secure way to travel for all age groups at all times is vital to maintaining its role at the heart of city life,

? Deputy Lahart said.

“Dublin Bus provides an invaluable service to many and it is essential that our public transport facilities are protected to support those that commute.

“The intimidation of bus users and drivers, which has recently escalated on the number 27 route in the Brookfield area, must stop, and a zero-tolerance approach must be taken to challenge the culprits and combat incidents of public disorder. 

“This can only be done by a number of dedicated transport police, possibly from the Traffic Corps of An Garda Síochána, who are visible and frequently patrolling our buses and Luas lines in an attempt to deter crime on our public transport system.

?

Deputy Lahart added:

“It is deeply disappointing for staff and bus users that Dublin Bus was forced to alter the route for the past two Fridays due to such inconsiderate behaviour. 

“A collaborative effort between community groups, youth services and addiction services would also help significantly to tackle this kind of challenging behaviour by some members of the public.

?

In May of this year, another Southside TD, Dublin Mid-West Deputy John Curran, called for a dedicated transport police force to be established for the Luas between Tallaght and Saggart in an effort to reduce crime on the line.

A spokesperson for Dublin Bus said they operated a fleet of 987 buses with 400,000 customer journeys a day.

“While the operation of such a large scale operation is challenging, the level of anti-social behaviour is relatively low,

? the spokesperson said.

“This is due, in part, to our commitment to embrace and foster community relations while also implementing physical mechanisms that protect our customers and employees who avail of our services.

“Dublin Bus has a strong and close working relationship with the gardaí and has set up a number of community forums in different areas across the city. These are regularly attended by our Area Managers and our Area Operations Manager.

?