Bus Éireann spent more than €500k hiring private coaches in Cork in 12 months 

Bus Éireann has spent over half a million euro in Cork to hire private coaches over the last 12 months.

The company is “facing significant short-term challenges” in the recruitment of drivers, it said in response to a parliamentary question asked by Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould.

“As a result of this, and in order to mitigate the impact of driver shortages and reduce the impact on service delivery for our customers, Bus Éireann may employ private contractors to supplement routes, particularly at peak times,” it added.

From September 2023 to August 2024, Bus Éireann spent €540,699.50 on private contractors in Cork.

This year, €10,811 was spent in January, €15,370 in February, €18,286 in March, €7,949 in April, €5,733 in May, and €10,690 in June.

The numbers increased dramatically in July and August, to €195,624 and €228,650.50, respectively.

Of those two months, the Bus Éireann spokesperson told Mr Gould: “This is owing to an increased need for drivers, due to the requirement of annual leave cover and a resultant increase in driver headcount demand.

“We were able to utilise a greater number of private contractors, as the end of the school year meant there was a larger number of contractors available.”

Intensive recruitment efforts have improved the driver headcount, and Bus Éireann said that “as of September 23, we are 25 drivers short from full requirement headcount”.

“These factors combined will see a sharp reduction in spend from Q3. As new drivers continue to join Bus Éireann, spend will reduce further and see private bus hire used on an exceptional-needs basis.”

Mr Gould said he was “completely shocked” by the figures.

“Over the last 12 months, half a million euro has been spent on these private contractors,” Mr Gould said.

“This would be better spent on improving drivers’ pay and conditions to retain the drivers they have and entice new drivers into Bus Éireann,” he said.

A Bus Eireann spokesperson told The Echo that when private coaches are hired they are operated by Bus Éireann, and the contracted vehicle “will still provide the same high standard of service with professionally trained drivers, ticket machines, low-floor disabled access, call bells, etc”.

However, Mr Gould recently had a series of public meetings, at which, he says, issues were raised with the private coaches, such as them not having call bells.