Dublin Bus profits were hit in 2023 by a provision required to cover the cost of buses damaged during the Dublin Riots from last November.
That is according to the 2023 Bus Átha Cliath annual report which shows that the company recorded a pre-tax profit of €2.3m for 2023.
A burning bus operated by Dublin Bus on Dublin’s O’Connell Bridge on the night of November 23rd last remains one of the most stark images of the Dublin Riots.
A note attached to the accounts states that "the company’s Public Service Obligation (PSO) profitability was also impacted in 2023 by provisions required to cover the cost of vehicles damaged during the civil disturbances in November 2023."
"The company continues to engage with key stakeholders in relation to this issue," the note adds.
A spokeswoman for Dublin Bus said on Friday that on the night "three buses were destroyed by fire, while one suffered more minor fire damage. One bus also had windows broken on the lower salon."
"Dublin Bus is still seeking to recover damages in relation to the costs incurred and these claims remain active at the moment," she added.
"During the course of the riot our employees witnessed scenes of public disorder, violence and in some cases were personally intimidated and threatened. Thankfully no significant physical injuries were sustained by any Dublin Bus employee," she concluded.
In his accompanying statement attached to the annual report, CEO Billy Hann referred to the Dublin Riots.
"Ensuring the safety of both residents and visitors in our city must always be a priority, but the need for collective action has never been more evident than in November when the 'Dublin Riots’ unfolded.
"These sad and shocking scenes of civil unrest forced us to suspend our services, a decision never taken lightly. However, our foremost priority has always been and will always be to protect the safety of our employees and customers," he said.
Elsewhere in the report, chairperson of Dublin Bus, Gary Owens highlighted the negative impact Dublin city traffic has on Dublin Bus operations.
"Traffic congestion continued to pose a substantial operational challenge in 2023, negatively impacting on our service reliability," he said.
"As the second most congested city in the world, it is imperative that we push forward in our efforts to establish a less car-dominated Dublin city," Mr Owens added.
He said that the pandemic "offered us a glimpse into what is possible for our city. With fewer cars on the road, bus services benefited from an increase in efficiency, punctuality, frequency, and reliability."
Revenues for 2023 at Dublin Bus increased by 8% to €334m on the back of 146m customer journeys compared to 121.4m in 2022.
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
