Public transport operators in Dublin were hit with a whopping €5m in fines during the first six months of this year due to cancellations and delays.
Figures released by the National Transport Authority show that they hit Dublin Bus with €1.5m in fines, while Go-Ahead's outer Dublin suburbs and Kildare to Dublin commuter operations received €1.17m in penalties. Luas was the hardest hit, being fined €2.67m for delays and cancellations to services.
The NTA also paid "incentive payments" to the public transport operators for "services exceeding on-time standard". Irish Rail, who were fined just €15,000 for delays and cancellations, received €291k in incentive payments. Dublin Bus received €103k, while Luas and Go-Ahead did not receive any incentive payments.
Read more: 'Serious concerns' raised about BusConnects due to spike of no-show buses in north Dublin
Issues with both Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead bus routes across the capital have been flagged repeatedly in recent months. BusConnects Phase 3 launched in north Dublin in May and implemented two new orbital routes, the N4 and N6. However, residents have complained about the services' reliability since it was implemented.
Independent Councillor for Ballymun-Finglas Noeleen Reilly said problems with buses is "the number one issue" that residents have contacted her about during the last week. She said: "This has meant people are late for work and children late for school and then they cannot get home. The last bus at night-time has been cancelled altogether on regular occasions. This is not acceptable for people.
"We are trying to encourage everyone to use public transport and leave the car at home but how can they if there is a chance the buses will not show up."
Councillor Reilly said the issue is affecting both Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead routes in the area. "This is affecting both Dublin Bus and Go-ahead which operate several routes in Ballymun and Finglas," she said. "I have contacted both and they have advised me that this is due to a severe shortage of drivers, and they are struggling to recruit as there is so much competition out there."
A spokeswoman for the National Transport Authority told Dublin Live that the issue is due to challenges with recruiting drivers and said the bus industry has been "particularly hit" following the Covid-19 pandemic.
She said: "The National Transport Authority is in regular contact with bus operators, who are making every attempt to recruit more drivers so that all services can run as scheduled. The Authority formally meets Go-Ahead Ireland and Dublin Bus on a weekly basis to review performance, and driver recovery plans.
"Operators have undertaken extensive driver recruitment campaigns in recent months and significant numbers of additional drivers are expected to become available once their required training and tests are complete and licences are issued by the Road Safety Authority (RSA). In addition the Authority has undertaken a national advertising campaign to attract bus drivers to the industry.
"The impact of shortfalls in driver numbers is felt the most when low-frequency services are cancelled or when the first and last services of the day are cancelled. The Authority and operators have been working to ensure that such cancellations are minimised, that – where possible – consecutive low frequency services are not withdrawn, and that first and last daily services on a route operated.
"The Authority apologises to passengers for the inconvenience that the current poor service performance is causing them. Operators are forecasting significant improvements in reliability in the coming months, dependent on successful recruitment and retention of critical staff, in particular drivers."
A spokeswoman for Go-Ahead Ireland told Dublin Live they are currently in the middle of their biggest ever recruitment campaign to hire staff as quickly as possible. She said: "Public transport operators frequently receive deductions and incentives as part of Public Service Obligation transport service contracts. This practice is in line with industry standards globally, and such deductions are received by other operators across the public transport network in Ireland.
"Go-Ahead Ireland does however recognise that there has been a certain level of disruption on our services and would like to apologise to any customers who have been impacted. The public transport sector is currently experiencing unprecedented challenges with regard to staff recruitment. We are currently in the process of our biggest ever recruitment campaign and are deploying new staff across all of our services as quickly as possible."
Dublin Live has contacted Dublin Bus and Luas for comment.
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