It is “madness” to reopen late-night bars and nightclubs without bringing back Nitelink bus services, according to the Licenced Vintners Association.
It has emerged that there are no plans to reintroduce the Nitelink when restrictions ease on October 22nd.
In a letter to Fianna Fáil TD Cormac Devlin, the National Transport Authority (NTA) said it was considering whether to introduce them before Christmas.
⬆️Students & hospitality staff will be hit hardest if the #Nitelink isn't restored when restrictions are lifted.
We need to support night-time workers and customers. Email Minister eamon.ryan@oir.ie asking for the #Nitelink to resume on 22nd October 👍 pic.twitter.com/USlOZY5E2u
— Cormac Devlin TD (@CormacDevlin) October 6, 2021
The Licenced Vintners Association (LVA) last week wrote to Transport Minister Eamon Ryan warning that the service must be reinstated for the safety of staff and customers.
On The Hard Shoulder this evening, LVA Chairman Noel Anderson said it is a “no-brainer” to bring them back as soon as restrictions ease.
“It is a huge thing, not only for customers heading out at night, but also for our staff,” he said.
“All the indications from London and New York show a big bounce in the late-night economy – a lot of pent-up demand – so waiting for a 24-hour system to kick in is madness and it needs to happen on the 22nd.”
He said people will be left with no way to get home unless the service is returned.
“They will have to get family members up out of bed or taxis and anybody that has been out in Dublin City Centre on a Friday or Saturday night will see how much of a struggle it is to get a taxi at the best of times,” he said.
“So, add this on top of it and it would be an unholy mess.”
"No brainer"
He said getting a tax would deliver a big dent to worker’s take-home pay.
“Depending on where you live, it doesn’t matter what you are working at, a bus is a lot cheaper than a taxi and it is definitely the preferred mode of transport for a lot of hospitality staff,” he said.
“It is just a no-brainer to kick this back in.”
Safety
Also on the show, former Dublin Lord Mayor Hazel Chu said 24-hour public transport was a big issue for the night-time economy taskforce, which published its report last month.
“To have a proper night-time economy you need to protect the people involved in it,” she said.
“You need to protect the people going out, you need to protect the workers and you need to ensure there is safe efficient transport for them to go home and the Nitelink is one of those key transports.”
She said the NTA decision is based on the fact there are three 24-hour bus routes in Dublin – the 39A, the 41 and the 15.
Nitelink
She said more need to be introduced and, in the meantime, the Nitelink must be reinstated.
“From now until Christmas at least you do need a Nitelink service,” she said.
“The service industry is on its knees at the moment. What we need to do is give as much help as possible to those people working in these industries and those enjoying those industries – and transport is a key element.
“It is a simple ask and it cannot just be an ask in Dublin. It is an ask that is nationwide.”
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On The Hard Shoulder this evening, LVA Chairman Noel Anderson said it is a “no-brainer” to bring them back as soon as restrictions ease.
