In the past 2 days, Bus Workers at two depots at Clontarf and Harristown took unofficial action which led to the cancellation of 29 routes, in a row dispute over bus cuts.
This morning 27th April 2009, the 206 bus was cut completly as a service in Ballyfermot. This route services an area with an aging population which also houses a population of at least 60 elderly people in Rossaveal Court. People Before Profit in Ballyfermot started at the beginning of February to campaign to save the service.
We secured the support of thousands of local people who signed petitions. We held a very significant public meeting, supported by all the local councillors. We lobbied the local Fianna Fail TD and organised roadside protests in Ballyfermot. We also had the support of pensioners committees and the local bus committtee.
Despite all our efforts the 206 service was taken off the road from today. All the bus stops on the route have been removed. Local residents who use the service are aged and in many cases disabled. They rely on the service to get to the post office, the bank, the doctor and hospital appointments. Now that it has been removed many of them will be forced to pay costly taxi fares from their weekly pension in order to carry out basic functions in their daily lives.
RTE's Pat Kenny show conducted a live broadcast from the Rossaveal Court complex this morning and interviewed local people who rely on the service.
They also interviewed the local People Before Profit candidate Brid Smith.
Brid Smith explained:
"When I heard about the loss of the 206 I rang the Conyngham Road garage and was told by the manager that even if the 206 bus was full on each journey that it "wouldn't pay the rent". The point of a public service is to look after the needs of the local community not to make a profit. Dozens of elderly people in our community will now be totally dependent on taxis if they can afford them. At worst they will be isolated and unable to make the journey to the post office, doctor, church or any of the day-to-day places that they need to attend. It is utterly wrong for Dublin Bus to cancel this service. We would appeal to all local politicans and groups of influence to voice their objection to this cut on behalf of the local community. What is needed in the Rossmore/Drumfinn area of Ballyfermot is a regular small bus service that is reliable and moves in and out of the estate to help these most respected members of our communtiy function in their daily lives. Bus cuts dont serve to take cars off the road and the removal of the 206 is a case in point. All that will be achieved is to totally discomode the most vulnerable people in the Ballyfermot area. We call on Dublin Bus to immediately reverse this most miserable cut back and return a bus service to the people of the area."
Stop the Cuts to Our Bus Services! Support the Bus Workers!
