Dublin Bus, the largest transporter in the state, continues to work to change perceptions and today, for the very first time, celebrates an all-women class of graduating new drivers. The graduation of Jennifer Dixon, Elizabeth Cummins, Tracy Sullivan, Rachel Dunne and Sinead Hilliard brings the total number of women drivers to 84, representing 3.3% of all drivers. The company continues to invite prospective candidates, male and female, who wish to join a team of world class drivers to apply for the role. For further information and to apply online visit our Human Resources section.
Dublin Bus has set a target of having 125 women drivers by the end of 2017, equating to 5% of all drivers. Company research shows that women drivers have fewer accidents and deliver a higher level of customer satisfaction. Drivers receive world class training at the company’s dedicated training centre in Phibsborough, Dublin 7. Executive in charge of training at the centre is Marie Beegan who became CIE’s first female Heavy Vehicle Apprentice Motor Mechanic, beginning her training with CIE in 1980. She studied Transport Management and began in her current role in 2015.
Speaking about the graduation of the first all-women class of drivers, Ray Coyne, Dublin Bus CEO said “Until 2014 Dublin Bus had not recruited drivers for a period of six years and during this time the number of women drivers fell. Therefore we decided to actively work to recruit more women to the role and it’s fantastic to celebrate the graduation today of our first all-women class from our training centre here in Phibsborough. Our drivers are the face of the company and the job is a hugely rewarding one and I welcome them to the Dublin Bus team. I would also encourage anyone who is interested in becoming a driver to apply.”
Dublin Bus drivers attend the training centre to complete their Certificate of Professional Competency (CPC) and driving skills training. This is delivered by a team of qualified experienced trainers, the majority of whom still work as bus drivers in service. Using regular service drivers ensures they remain in touch with day-to-day issues for bus drivers.
The training centre provides a six week training programme to recruits. The first three and a half weeks is spent with driving instructors on D licence instruction and recruits take their Department of Environment driving test. They then spend two weeks completing classroom based training on modules such as tickets and on bus technology, customer service, advanced driving standards, wellbeing, and policies and procedures. Their last few days in the Training Centre includes a Driving Skills Assessment course and night driving.
Dublin Bus is the biggest public transport provider in the state and carries 61% of all passengers on public transport into the city centre. It has been a part of the fabric of the streets and lives of the capital city since 1987, with 110 routes, including 19 high-frequency ones that criss-cross the city. In 2014 the company won the CPC Training Organisation of the Year at the Road Safety Authority’s Leading Lights in Road Safety Awards.