Dublin Bus is expected to apologise today for recent service problems, blaming them on “network expansion” that put pressure on already-existing services.
Billy Hann, the company’s new chief executive, will inform the Joint Oireachtas Transport Committee that “our services have occasionally fallen below our own high standards.”
Hann, who took over as CEO 13 days ago, is anticipated to inform TDs and Senators that the company is under more pressure because Dublin Bus is rapidly expanding its bus network.
“The recent pace of network expansion has placed significant pressure on the company as we seek to deliver additional services and also provide our network of contracted services,” Hann will say.
The company intends to deal with this pressure by increasing overtime when possible and making some changes to service delivery that would have the least negative impact on passengers.
“I am confident that improvements seen in recent weeks can be maintained as we build towards 2023. We must also recognise that there are challenges beyond our control which we must navigate in an economy operating at practically full employment.”
It comes just over a month after the company last appeared at the Committee, with former Acting Chief Executive Andrea Keane telling TDs and Senators that the reliability of the Real-Time Passenger Information (RTPI) systems had “deteriorated in recent months”.
However, Hann is set to tell the Committee that Dublin Bus Operations and Technical Development teams have been “closely monitoring the performance of all RTPI systems”, adding that some technical errors had been resolved on 1 December.
He will say that the system is operating at “98% accuracy” and that many technical issues with the system have been resolved.
In addition, Hann will discuss the ongoing difficulties Dublin Bus has finding qualified candidates.
Since January, the company has hired 319 new drivers, 39 of whom have been hired in the month since Dublin Bus’s most recent appearance before the Oireachtas Transport Committee.
“Recruitment remains one of the biggest challenges facing the organisation and we anticipate it will be Q2 before we hit the required driver numbers.”
“We very much regret the impact this is having on customers. All our employees are working hard to minimise the effect of driver recruitment challenges.”