Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2024
68. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport his views on the inhumane policy regarding comfort breaks within Dublin Bus, where drivers are being penalised for having to use facilities, which is causing buses to run late, and comfort breaks having to be recorded. [16995/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for the opportunity to address the comfort break policy that Dublin Bus has for its drivers.
I want to start by reassuring the Deputy that Dublin Bus is fully committed to ensuring that all of their employees working across the network, such as drivers or mechanics, have adequate and appropriate access to bathroom facilities while carrying out their duties.
I have been advised by Dublin Bus that they currently have a project team in place to examine and review the existing policy around comfort breaks at the company, with a view to identifying possible improvements.
The project team is working with other public transport operators, the NTA, and other stakeholders to examine the potential to share facilities amongst operators, as well as sourcing additional facilities for employees to utilise when operating their routes. As a result of this work, new facilities recently opened at Liffey Valley, and an agreement has been reached with UCD and the Beckett Locke Hotel for drivers to have access to their facilities when required. The project team is working on acquiring access to additional facilities at a further 14 strategic locations across the city.
As the Deputy will be aware, the performance of all public transport operators is monitored by the NTA as part of the contractual arrangements in place between it and the operators, including Dublin Bus. I am advised that the only records kept by Dublin Bus in relation to comfort breaks are related to the potential impact on service delivery by way of delays.
I would like to assure the Deputy, that my department has been informed by Dublin Bus that none of their drivers are penalised for having to use facilities while operating public transport services.
