Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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3. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on safety measures for staff and passengers on board public transport. [20790/23]

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to hear the Minister of State's views regarding safety measures, particularly for passengers and staff using public transport. For some time, in my previous role, I called for the establishment of a Garda transport division to protect people on public transport and the staff who run it. In many cases, there have been serious incidents of what is sometimes described as antisocial behaviour but goes well beyond that. It is thuggery and abuse. People have been attacked while using public transport. This means people are hesitant, particularly late in the evening, to use these services. If we want a public transport system that is going to work, it must be affordable, reliable and safe.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. I am aware of the importance of this matter and the concern in Dublin and in other locations. It is a very serious issue of safety in our public transport network, as the Deputy said. I fully recognise that those who regularly use and work in our public transport network are most directly impacted by any safety or security incidents. Safety and security on public transport are matters that first and foremost must be managed by public transport operators in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, where appropriate. Nonetheless, both the Department and the National Transport Authority, NTA, engage regularly with operators on the issue of safety. The NTA has established a working group on antisocial behaviour, which meets monthly to share information and best practices.

Separately, under the national sustainable mobility policy, my Department has committed to publishing an annual public transport passenger safety and personal security report with the NTA.

Each of the operators has introduced a number of initiatives in recent years to help to combat the issue. For example, there has been an increase of more than 50% in spending on rail security in recent years, from €3.7 million in 2016 to a preliminary spend of €6.3 million in 2023. The entire Dublin Bus fleet is fully fitted with CCTV cameras and radios for immediate contact to a central control centre. An Garda Síochána is conducting more patrols in areas experiencing particular safety and security issues and has 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 regarding issues of safety on public transport.

I am also pleased to report that following close collaboration between Dublin Bus, An Garda Síochána and various representative groups, Dublin Bus resumed full services to the west Tallaght area last Sunday, these services having been curtailed in recent months due to totally unacceptable antisocial behaviour. The combined interventions implemented to date across the network have helped to tackle some of the antisocial behaviour. However, I fully acknowledge that more work needs to be done.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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The situation in west Tallaght is an example of the kind of problems we have. Many people depend on having a proper public transport system to be able to get to work and do their normal day-to-day business. We are encouraging people, especially those who live in urban areas, to use public transport but we find it often arrives late. Buses, in particular, have huge problems with delays. It is expensive for many people. People find it unsafe to use public transport, especially in the evening. This has gone on for a considerable length of time. The transport unions have stated that staff are under serious pressure. Staff have been injured, badly attacked and abused. The Minister of State said there is additional expenditure on security measures, but the problem is that private security companies do not have the power to deal with these incidents. The only people who have the power to deal with these incidents are members of An Garda Síochána. While they may get on public transport, including buses, trains and trams, on an ad hocbasis, they are not there permanently and that needs to change.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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We are fully committed to continuing to work with all stakeholders to ensure the safest possible environment for passengers and all employees providing vital public transport services. I welcome that in recent weeks the Garda transport hub has been announced and will be in operation in the National Train Control Centre at Heuston Station this Friday, 5 May 2023. This will allow An Garda Síochána to have oversight of all public transport networks, including trains, buses and trams. It will strengthen the links between An Garda Síochána and public transport operators and allow An Garda Síochána to respond more quickly to any issues that may arise. I have also been informed that it is expected a similar centre will be opened in Connolly Station. Having a strong collaboration between public transport operators and An Garda Síochána and strengthening the presence of An Garda Síochána will support all our combined efforts in trying to ensure we have safer public transport.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Another aspect of this is the retention of staff. It is a problem. There is a shortage of drivers across the country and across the world, especially for public transport utilities. The issue for many is that they do not particularly want to drive a bus, tram, Luas or whatever where they will be attacked or abused by people on a regular basis. Alternative employment is available to them. We must ensure people are kept safe. There are issues with other aspects of employment law in that respect. There is a race to the bottom with regard to the privatisation of services. However, one of the key things is the issue of safety and security and ensuring people feel safe when they go to work. We have a situation in Dublin and in other parts of the country where young people leaving work late in the evening have no option for travelling home. They have no way to get back to where they live. They end up walking the streets and it is dangerous. If there is a bus service, they are afraid to use it. We must change that.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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It is important that we have a safe and secure network and most importantly, that people feel safe and secure. The Department of Transport hosted the inaugural annual sustainable mobility forum last week, which was attended by key stakeholders from trade unions, public transport user-group representatives and public transport companies. All stakeholders engaged positively on a wide range of issues and there were discussions about how best to improve safety on our public transport network. I hope the control centre An Garda Síochána now has with the transport operators in Heuston Station will be replicated in Connolly Station. The level of attention and focus the issue is receiving across all operators will mean a greater presence will be seen. The question as to whether a specific unit will be established is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice, but I welcome that we have much greater levels of collaboration, focus and presence on our public transport services. That must be expanded and continued in the coming months.