School campaign deters bus vandalism

A BIG drop in vandalism to Limerick city’s bus fleet has been attributed to a schools campaign run by Bus Éireann.

Last year, there were 140 reported incidents in which buses were damaged.

The cost of replacement glass came to €150,000. But the damages did not take into account labour costs and lost revenue while out-of-service buses were being repaired.

This year, however, the smashed glass bill dropped to €90,000.

Miriam Flynn, area manger for Bus Éireann, said: “There is no doubt that our campaign directed at primary school pupils is paying a huge dividend.

“Our campaign impresses on them that the Bus Éireann fleet is there to serve their community, their families, their parents and grandparents and if a bus service is cancelled due to an attack, it is their families which suffer the most.”

The problem had reached such proportions that a number of bus routes were cancelled for most of the day.

Ms Flynn said schoolchildren in Limerick were now emerging as “anti-vandalism ambassadors”. The programme is now continuing into its fourth year.

Yesterday, prizes were presented to winners in various categories by Defence Minister Willie O’Dea.

Ms Flynn said: “We hope to make continued progress in this area in 2008 in the interests of providing a safer environment for everyone in the future.”

The schools programme is run by a Limerick Bus Éireann driver, Ger Doran, who visits schools and engages children in a thought-provoking and lively discussion about these issues.

This year, Mr Doran visited 24 schools and spoke with 3,390 children.

The bus driver said: “The aim of the programme is to highlight to children the important role the bus plays in the life of the community.

“In the broadest sense, the programme seeks to get children at a young age to start thinking about the concept of community.”