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.

Labour Cork East TD Seán Sherlock had asked Irish Rail for its figures for 2023 and 2024, with the rail provider’s response showing that €6.5m was spent last year and that €6.9m will be spent this year subject to National Transport Authority funding.

Bus Éireann said it had spent over €925,000 so far this year, with over €1.9m being spent in 2023. It said that the figure includes CCTV at premises and external security.

The calls come in light of an incident in Cork where a man allegedly forced his way onto a bus and threatened to cut the driver’s throat and to kill his wife and their children.

Gardaí and Bus Éireann are conducting separate investigations into the incident on the 220 bus in Ballincollig earlier this month, with the bus company confirming it now has six reported incidents of assault of a staff member, and 43 incidents of verbal abuse of a staff member or passenger nationally so far this year.

In its safety report for the first quarter of 2024, Irish Rail said there had been 292 “reportable” incidents on its services, up from 202 in the first three months of last year.

The report pointed out that there had been over 10m journeys in that time and the company added that the issue of safety and security on public transport services is “one of keen interest to our customers, our employees, and the wider public”.

“While antisocial behaviour is a societal issue, and the overwhelming majority of journeys occur without incident, we must ensure that we are providing the safest possible travelling and working environment for customers and employees respectively.”

The most common incidents were aggressive behaviour, vandalism, assaults, and fighting. There were 441 incidents involving alcohol or drugs, with 241 reports of people who were under the influence of alcohol.

Labour TD Duncan Smith, the party’s transport spokesman, said the Cork attack showed the need for dedicated gardaí on public transport.

We cannot continue to tolerate attacks on our public transport workers and commuters feeling unsafe on public transport.

“We need to see a Garda-led solution with a dedicated public transport unit.

"I recently welcomed Siptu into the transport committee to discuss the shocking findings from their recent survey on the safety of public transport workers.

If we are to win the transition from cars to buses, trams, and rail then people need certainty of service and safety. 

Cork City councillor Peter Horgan, who chairs the city’s roads and transport strategic policy committee said transport police would make public transport more attractive to commuters.

“It’s critical that we at the very least trial a public transport garda outfit on a regular basis, especially on routes where the bulk of these private security firms are operating. 

"It would bring peace of mind to public transport workers and commuters. It would also have the asset of oversight. Both Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Union have advocated for this unit for some time. It’s high time we listen to workers on the frontline.”