Bus Éireann to cut jobs and services

BUS ÉIREANN’S decision to cut its fleet by 150, along with the loss of 120 of Dublin Bus’s fleet last week, breaks four of the Government’s five commitments on transport laid out in its last Programme for Government.

The company yesterday confirmed it was to axe 322 staff, mainly drivers, and take the 150 vehicles off the roads due to a drop in the demand for public transport brought on by the recession.

The company said that as well as cutting its fleet it was deferring payment of 6% pay increases under the new national wage deal and freezing pay until the end of 2009. It also said there would be no recruitment from outside the organisation for at least 2009 and 2010.