Bus services to parts of Tallaght in Dublin have been curtailed this evening due to an increase in anti-social behaviour on some routes, with drivers saying it is not safe for them to operate in some areas of west Tallaght.
Drivers had refused to operate some routes to west Tallaght from 6pm, due to what the NBRU and SIPTU described as "grotesque levels of violence" and anti-social behaviour on routes in the area.
Following discussions this afternoon between Dublin Bus, trade unions and other stakeholders, including An Garda Síochána, it has been agreed that instead of terminating at the Square Tallaght from 6pm, routes 27, 56a, 65b and 77a will now follow the usual and agreed anti-social behaviour protocol.
It has now been agreed that from 6pm, route 27 buses to and from Jobstown will operate from the Square via the N81 to Fortunestown Road and then terminate. Buses will not serve Cheeverstown Road, Brookfield Road and Russell Square.
Buses on route 56a will operate to and from the Square via Cookstown Way to the normal route at Katharine Tynan Road. Buses will not serve the N81, Cheeverstown Road, Cookstown Road and Fettercairn.
Route 65b buses will serve the normal route to Firhouse Road West and then divert via Whitestown Drive to the N81 before returning to the normal route at Blessington Road. Buses will not serve Killinarden Heights.
Buses on route 77a will serve the normal route to the Square and then divert via the N81 to the normal route at Blessington Road. Buses will not serve Whitestown Drive and Killinarden Heights.
The NBRU and SIPTU had earlier apologised to commuters ahead of the planned changes, but said "the ordinary men and women driving buses have had enough of the almost daily diet of gratuitous violence" they face when operating in the area.
The unions said the decision followed 35 incidents of violence and vandalism in December alone, including one incident in which a woman bus driver was "terrorised by a huge mob".
They said it was "not tenable for bus drivers to risk life and limb driving buses into estates in west Tallaght to be attacked and assaulted", adding that the protocols that should "kick in when attacks take place have been ignored too many times".
In a statement, Dublin Bus said it had been notified of the potential withdrawal of routes 27, 77a and 65b from West Tallaght today and was engaging with both trade unions to resolve the issue.
Customers are advised to check the Dublin Bus website and social media channels for updates.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One earlier today, NBRU General Secretary Dermot O'Leary said it is not just bus drivers who are being attacked and that passengers are also impacted.
Over the last year alone there have been 150 incidents reported, he said, including cases of racial abuse, threats with knives, cannisters being thrown through bus windows and drug taking.
He said it is a "very small minority of people" engaging in this type of behaviour, adding that the community and politicians "need to come to the table" and provide a commitment to bus drivers' security.
