Trade unions say State ‘cannot walk away’ as Expressway closure recommended

Trade unions said the Department of Transport could not walk away from the crisis at Bus Éireann, after a consultant’s report suggested as many as 500 jobs were under threat due to its poor financial position.

A report by consultants Grant Thornton, which was commissioned by the state-owned company, recommended that Bus Éireann shut down its loss-making Expressway service, claiming it may be the most viable option given there were “limited strategic reasons” for the State to own a commercial bus business.

However, such a move would result in the closure of 10 depots with the loss of 516 jobs,