Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I support Deputy Ward in respect of this. The issues of antisocial behaviour and vicious attacks on both commuters and the drivers of our public bus, train and rail services have been ongoing. It is something we need to deal with. The reality is that if we are to have more people using public transport, there will be centres of community movement. We would want to understand that community policing is about where people are, and people will be at bus stops, on trains and using public transport more and more. That is why we have a longstanding proposal to see a transport policing division of An Garda Síochána. That needs to be considered in the context of expanding and growing our public transport infrastructure across the country.

Another issue comes to mind in respect of this. We also, of course, have a big issue with recruitment and getting new drivers and other staff to work on these services. Many of these people are from other countries, and I have heard from many people that a lot of the stuff that is going on is racist attacks and racist abuse of drivers and people using these services. We need to recognise that we have a difficulty here and that that difficulty needs to be addressed.

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