Bus Éireann keeping passengers safe with hand sanitizer dispensers onboard

Bus Éireann are to be commended for providing hand sanitizer onboard their fleet to keep passengers safe during Covid-19, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Jerry Buttimer, a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on transport, said, “We all know by now hand sanitizer and face masks are vital when it comes to public health measures on transport.

“In August 2020, I proposed that Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus and Irish Rail should all have hand sanitiser dispensers on board.

“In November, Dublin Bus launched a pilot scheme by installing on-bus hand sanitizer units on some of its buses which worked well, and thankfully was without incidents or accidents.

“I am delighted to confirm that Bus Éireann have now installed hand sanitizers on almost 100% of their vehicles nationwide.

“This is in addition to the extra staff they have introduced to use anti-bacterial spray to sanitize the safety bars/rails throughout the buses during the day to keep the risk of Covid-19 to a minimum, even with the reduced capacity on the buses at present.

“Go Ahead are currently in the process of installing units on all their vehicle, while Dublin Bus expect to complete the rollout of sanitizers on their fleet by the start of May. Irish Rail also have hand sanitiser units in many of its stations, and are being extended to all 144 stations across its network.

“Up to 50 stations are being equipped with dedicated vending machines, from which face coverings, personal hand sanitiser and gloves are available. They are also thoroughly and regularly cleaning trains, and customer touch points on trains and in stations

“These transport operators are to be commended for playing their part in keeping the country moving while continuing to maintain safety standards for its passengers,” Senator Buttimer concluded.