DUBLIN BUS drivers and their families protested outside the Department of Transport yesterday over planned cutbacks at the company that will see 120 buses withdrawn from service and the loss of 290 jobs.
The drivers handed a letter to Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey in which they claimed the cutbacks would wreck any attempt to provide a coherent transport system for the capital as well as destroying livelihoods.
Placards bearing slogans such as “390 families on dole to save Anglo” and “billions for bankers, P45 for bus drivers” summed up the sense of anger among drivers that they are being scapegoated for problems that they did not cause.
Derek Phoenix, a driver with Dublin Bus, said it was immoral that the Government was trying to save money by cutting bus services “when they can find the money for the banks”. “We’ve done nothing wrong and because of greed and corruption elsewhere, we have to pay the price,” he said.
The Green Party also came under fire for “standing by and saying nothing” about the cuts.
Former Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins, who attended the two-hour protest, said it was an “outrage” that a Government with Green ministers should preside over cutbacks in public transport.
Owen McCormack, another driver, said the planned cutbacks were “insane” at a time when the Government was trying to persuade people to forgo private cars in favour of public transport.
John McCamley, vice-president of Siptu’s Dublin Bus branch, said the union would ballot its members for industrial action today.