Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is right that antisocial behaviour on our public transport systems is a real scourge. I fully recognise that those who regularly use and work within our public transport network are directly impacted by any safety or security incidents that may occur on the network. I reassure the Deputy that Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland both take the safety and security of passengers and staff very seriously and work with the NTA and An Garda Síochána to promote order and safety on board their vehicles. Each of the operators has introduced a number of initiatives in recent years to help combat the issue. For example, the entire Dublin Bus fleet is fully fitted with CCTV cameras and radios for immediate contact to a central control centre.

Both Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead utilise extensive CCTV networks to discourage antisocial behaviour incidents.

Further, An Garda Síochána is conducting more patrols in the areas experiencing particular safety and security issues and have deployed undercover gardaí to assist with this. I fully support this work and the ongoing positive engagement between An Garda Síochána and the various public transport operators as regards the issue of safety on public transport.

Despite this, both Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead have noted increases in antisocial behaviour on their services, including verbal abuse towards employees and stone-throwing at buses.

In 2023, Dublin Bus experienced 621 reports of antisocial behaviour on its services: 315 incidences related to objects, particularly stones, thrown at buses and 91 incidences of aggressive behaviour. Dublin Bus had to implement 238 route curtailments throughout 2023 due to repeated incidences of antisocial behaviour on routes, while Go-Ahead experienced 310 reports of antisocial behaviour on its services in 2023, with 68 reported incidences of verbal assault on employees and 49 reports of objects thrown at buses.

I assure the Deputy that I take this issue very seriously and that my Department and the NTA will continue to engage regularly with operators on the issue of safety and security on public transport.

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