Clondalkin bus services to resume evening trips

DUBLIN BUS drivers who had withdrawn evening services from two routes in north Clondalkin for almost a fortnight because of anti-social behaviour, yesterday agreed to restore services after they were promised increased Garda presence on the routes.

Neilstown Road, Ronanstown and the Fonthill Road had not been served after 7.30pm by the the 78A bus between Dublin city centre and Liffey Valley and the 76 bus between the West County Hotel and Tallaght since July 5th.

Evening services were diverted after an increasing number of incidents in which rocks were thrown at buses resulting in broken windows, National Bus and Rail Union drivers' representative Martin Feery said, describing it as "a very serious situation".

Drivers are due to review the situation in two weeks, Mr Feery said.

However, a long-term solution is needed to tackle the other problems on the routes including drug-taking, drug selling and drinking, particularly on the upper deck of the buses, he added.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times