Dublin Bus Serving the entire community

Fingal Independent reports

Community pressure, rather than ‘waffle from politicians’, delivers, a local election candidate has said in a row over the fate of a bus route.

The Green Party’s Swords candidate, Ken Duffy accused the Socialist Party of ‘pressing people’s panic buttons’ earlier this month after a leaflet announcing proposed bus route cuts was distributed in a Swords estate.

In a message from the Socialist Howth/ Malahide candidate, Brian Greene, residents of Holywell were told the 142 route was to be ’slashed’ and were urged to put maximum pressure on Government parties. Mr Duffy dismissed the claims as ’scaremongering’. In response, the Socialists said they had spoken to Dublin Bus shop stewards last week, who were still in talks with the company and said a new duty to cover the 142 service is to be included, as part of a deal on new rosters and working arrangements.

‘We salute the efforts of residents in the communities and the bus drivers in their campaign to ensure that the maximum number of bus routes and jobs are protected from management’s cost-cutting programme at Dublin Bus,’ Mr Greene said.

‘A new rostering arrangement was worked out in the LRC which enabled the 142 to continue to be undertaken in the evening. This shows that the pressure with regard to this route is having an impact.’

UPDATE: The saving of this route is part of a deal that will have the driver on duty on the 142 working a 13 hour shift. The deal between the company & unions  was rejectect by workers. Dublin Bus will put in place the revised cuts this weekend. And service disruption is expected. I wonder how safe it is to drive a bus on a 13 hour shift?