The poorly-performing privatised bus routes must return to being operated by state-owned companies to ensure a high-quality and accountable bus service, according to David Gardiner, Workers’ Party representative for Palmerstown-Fonthill. Gardiner said “If the National Transport Authority, as they have said, are not satisfied with the performance of bus routes operated by GoAhead, where is the logic in extending their contract?”
“Dublin commuters, including the people of Palmerstown and Clondalkin who use the 18 and 76, have had to put up with buses being overcrowded, delayed and disappearing from the real-time app without explanation since these routes were privatised. “The Workers’ Party has highlighted the dangers of bus route privatisation on numerous occasions ever since it was announced some years ago. Profit has become prioritised over delivering a quality bus service. GoAhead have made profits in the millions from our bus routes while working people have had a key public service run down on us.” “Apologies and promises are not enough. Taking our bus routes out of the hands of profiteers is a must if we want to have a high-quality bus service that can be better held accountable.”
