It is in the dozens, I would say. It is a strange phenomenon that somebody does not pay €1.45, but ends up with a criminal conviction. We are totally mystified by that. There are a lot of people who now have criminal convictions, including students who are studying in colleges in Dublin. When they apply for a visa to travel to the United States or Australia they will be refused if they divulge that they have a criminal conviction because they have not paid €1.45. We are puzzled that people would do that. I share the Deputy's concern and we are concentrating on the matter.
The O'Connell Street accident was an extremely serious one. We sincerely regret that people were injured. Even though the injured have all been released from hospital, its seriousness cannot be underestimated. The Garda Síochána is carrying out an investigation, which I am told will be completed by the end of November. The Garda may proceed further depending on the outcome of the investigation. The railway accident investigation unit is also carrying out an investigation. Under the Railway Safety Act, it has a year in which to carry out that investigation, but I know it is under way. Members of the Garda Síochána have spoken to me personally, as well as everybody involved in that accident. They have told me that the RPA should say nothing that in any way prejudices any future action they may take. I am taking that advice.
I will move on to the Deputy's query about health and safety, and an independent review of the maximum drive time. It is a matter which is the direct responsibility of Veolia, rather than the RPA, but we work extremely closely with Veolia on this. They are our contractors. Not only does the RPA work closely with Veolia, but so does the Railway Safety Commission, which has a statutory responsibility to audit Veolia. The RSC has carried out formal audits of matters, including drive time, rostering and issues of fatigue. Those investigations have been carried out and we are provided with the independent reports that have been prepared by the Railway Safety Commission. None of those reports has indicated that Veolia is gambling on safety, as the Deputy described it. In point of fact, all those reports have given a strong endorsement of the health and safety management.
As the Deputy pointed out, reviews have been carried out. I know a review has been carried out in the context of contract negotiations between Veolia and their employees. As part of those contract negotiations, an independent review was carried out, which I presume is the one to which the Deputy referred. That independent review suggested that there should be a certain shortening in the maximum drive time. A new roster will be introduced on the Luas red and green lines to take account of the Luas extension, which we hope will be opened on 8 December. That new roster will implement those changes, to which Veolia is committed.
Of course we are always concerned about health and safety issues. From working closely with those in Veolia, I am confident that it is their highest priority also. We work both in a three-way relationship and also directly with the Railway Safety Commission. We pay a lot of attention to any reports that are prepared which suggest there is any compromise on health and safety. Health and safety has to be the highest priority in public transport. We are confident that the people who have direct responsibility for setting rosters are concerned about this. I am pleased to say that it has been confirmed to me by the managing director of Veolia Ireland that, as regards the report which recommended some modest changes, when the new roster is introduced on 8 December those changes will be implemented. It is a matter of serious concern and has been dealt with in the appropriate manner.
I will now move on to the issue of harassment of passengers and staff, and anti-social behaviour. It is a serious matter, which the RPA discussed regularly with Veolia and the Garda Síochána. When we speak directly to passengers, that matter is brought to our attention. Mr. Michael Sheedy and I participate in safety forums with drivers and customer service officers who express concern about anti-social behaviour on the trams. I would like to take a few moments to distinguish between various aspects of this. Certain activity would be regarded as unpleasant. The Luas, particularly the red line, runs past several drug clinics. People who attend drug clinics use the tram to get from place to place. Passengers tell us that they feel uncomfortable. My response to that is that people who use drug clinics are citizens, too, and they have the same right as anyone else to travel on public transport. While that category is sometimes described as anti-social behaviour, it is not.
