Bus Éireann to slash Derry Dublin route on May 28

In a circular issued to staff on Monday afternoon the transport company advised the local service was one of three routes set to be slashed as part of its cost-cutting plans.

Bus Éireann’s Dublin to Clonmel route will also close on March 12. Its Athlone to Westport service ends on April 16.

The cuts were circulated alongside 55 further cost-cutting measures proposed by the company.

In a statement, the company said: “Due to the perilous state of the Company’s finances and the failure to reach agreement with unions at the Workplace Relations Committee (WRC) last week, the Board of Bus Éireann considered the matter in detail at its meeting today and approved proposals for immediate cost savings to be implemented from Monday, March 6.

“These measures are vital to ensure that the Company remains solvent, and can continue to trade as a going concern.

“The Company must deal with its challenges directly, and the Board have a duty to ensure Bus Éireann is financially sustainable and therefore must take the necessary steps to secure this.

“Further dialogue aimed at urgently resolving these challenges would be welcome.”

Members of SIPTU and the NBRU are preparing for strike action in opposition to the cuts.

The NBRU said it would engage in “all-out indefinite strike if, as is anticipated the company move to unilaterally implement cuts to contractual terms and conditions”.