Bus strike costs Dublin business €2 -€4 million a day

Dublin city business may have lost between €2 million and €4 million yesterday due to the bus strike, business representative groups have claimed.

The effect of the strike on shoppers, tourists and commuters, and the associated loss of revenue, would have grown if bus services had not been reinstated, Dublin City Business Association chief executive David Brennan said.

"In retail, when the money is gone, it's gone – people aren't going to hold on and wait until they can get back into town. I reckon the city is losing €2 million to €2.5 million a day."

Tourism

Gains made in tourist numbers as a result of the Gathering were in danger of being lost, he said.

“We’ve had 4 per cent growth in tourism this year, the first growth in five years.

“Dublin is not brilliant about getting repeat customers, and if they’re having a difficult experience now they may not come back.”

The Small Firms Association (SFA) costed the loss in productivity from workers delayed in getting into the city at €4 million yesterday.

“The overall cost in terms of days lost is difficult to access, but the SFA estimates that if employees in Dublin lost just 30 minutes yesterday, the result is 53,431 days lost, a lost productivity cost of just over €4 million,” said SFA director Avine McNally.

The strike was creating “misery” for those trying to earn a living and must be resolved, Ms McNally said.

"The impact of this strike on businesses and workers is too great, both sides must engage with each other through the Labour Relations Commission to ensure a speedy outcome," she added.