Protests over Dublin Bus cuts

Protests against changes and cuts to Dublin Bus services will take place across the capital at the weekend.

The protests on Saturday, organised by the Save Our Bus Services (SOBS) campaign, are being described as the first step in a concerted "fightback against cuts in public transport services for the most vulnerable communities".

The campaign is being co-ordinated by People Before Profit in conjunction with affected communities.

The protests take place in Inchicore; Ringsend; Dundrum; Donnycarney; Crumlin; Ballymun; Whitehall; Finglas; Dún Laoghaire and Clondalkin.

What is being billed by organisers as a further “mass demo”is planned for the following weekend outside Dublin Bus headquarters in O'Connell Street.

Dublin Bus has been changing and, in some cases, eliminating bus routes across the city since September last year as part of the 'Network Direct' project.

Further changes are planned which campaigners said will cause more hardship for the elderly, the sick and less well-off who are dependent on a quality bus service.

A spokeswoman for Dublin Bus said the changes were not intended to cause hardship but to improve and enhance services. "These changes have been implemented on a phased basis and each one following a public consultation process and extensive public information campaign,” she said.

Areas affected so far include Stillorgan, Dún Laoghaire, Bray, north Wicklow, Blanchardstown, Lucan and north Kildare, she said.

Consultations were onoing about planned changes in Clondalkin, Ballymun, Coolock, Cabra, Donaghmede, Artane, Ballyfermot, Finglas east, west and south, Glasnevin, Drumcondra, Tallaght, Walkinstown, Crumlin Road, South Circular Road, Pearse Street, Sandymount, Kilmacud, Ballinteer, Goatstown and Dundrum.

"Dublin Bus has engaged with local representatives, customers and different groups to brief them on proposed plans and received feedback. After each public consultation this feedback is collated and assessed before plans are finalised," she said.

Speaking a press conference in Dublin today, Patsy Doolin, a Ringsend resident and member of 'Save the Number 3 Bus' campaign, said she was "overwhelmed” at how difficult it is to get a bus to keep hospital appointments. “If the number 3 is cut any more, it is going to be a great inconvenience to people,” she said.

Bobby O'Toole, Monkstown resident and member of the 'Save the 46A' campaign, said the most vulnerable members of society who are suffering. “Since the cuts to the 46A last September, people have to wait over an hour for a bus. This is an outrage."

Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit TD for Dún Laoghaire, said the cuts were the most recent in a long series of attacks on services and jobs in Dublin Bus.

"The real agenda of Dublin Bus and this Government is to privatise this essential public service and allow private companies to cherry-pick the most profitable routes,” he claimed.