Fresh calls for dedicated transport police as Bus Éireann and Irish Rail reveal €9m security spend

A Bus Éireann bus at Ennis train station in Co Clare. Among the recent incidents on Irish public transport was one in Limerick where a bus driver was shot in the face with a pellet gun. Picture Dan Linehan

A public transport police unit “should be trialled at a minimum” in light of recent attacks on staff and the costs of private security on trains and buses, it has been claimed.

Figures released by Irish Rail and Bus Éireann show that security on trains and buses this year will cost around €9m.