General Election candidate Lynda Prendergast has welcomed the announcement that Dublin Bus will be deploying security guards on its services as part of a new 20-week pilot programme aimed at enhancing safety across the public transport network.
The initiative, which will see the introduction of two dedicated mobile security units, is designed to improve security for both passengers and employees and combat anti-social behavior.
The mobile security teams will be deployed daily during peak travel hours, operating from 14:00 to 02:00 Sunday through Thursday, and from 16:00 to 04:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. One unit will patrol the northside of Dublin, while the other will cover the southside, providing greater peace of mind for public transport users across the city.
Prendergast praised the move as a vital step in ensuring public transport remains a safe and appealing option for all.
“This pilot programme represents a critical step in making our public transport system safer for everyone, whether you’re a passenger or a Dublin Bus employee,” the Fianna Fáil candidate said. “It’s important that we create an environment where everyone feels protected from anti-social behavior, and this initiative is a proactive approach towards achieving that.”
“By providing a secure and reliable service, we encourage more people to leave their cars behind and take the bus, contributing to our climate objectives.
“As a member of the Tallaght Transport Forum, I believe any initiative that helps reduce the number of incidents affecting both bus drivers and passengers is a welcome and necessary development and I look forward to seeing how this programme evolves and hope it will pave the way for a permanent solution to improve safety across the entire transport network.”
