[PR] Thousands of Limerick School Children Help Bus Éireann Tackle Bus Vandalism

Victor

http://www.buseireann.ie/news.php?id=685&month=Dec

Thousands of Limerick School Children Help Bus Éireann Tackle Bus Vandalism

Thousands of school children in Limerick city have become ‘anti-vandalism ambassadors’ in a community programme run by Bus Éireann to crack down on the crime and anti-social behaviour that affects its buses and services.

These children were today (December 15 2008) recognised by the Mayor of Limerick, Cllr John Gilligan at the launch of the 2009 Bus Éireann Community Awareness Programme Calendar in Galvone National School, Roxboro Road, Limerick.

The Calendar features the winning art and poetry entries chosen from thousands of submissions in competitions staged in schools throughout the city. The children were asked to write a poem and/or draw a picture on the theme of “It’s your bus, don’t vandalise it.” Details of the winners can be found below.

Now in its fifth year, the programme has had a significant impact in reducing bus vandalism. New figures from Bus Éireann show that instances of vandalism in the city have fallen by up to 50 per cent over last two years.

“Bus vandalism has been a significant problem for us, not just in Limerick but in most urban areas. It is of major concern to Bus Éireann because it has implications for the safety of our passengers and our staff. It also adversely affects the provision of city services to customers when buses are off the road for repair. Bus Éireann has been actively working to counteract this issue by working with communities and the Gardai on initiatives such as the Community Awareness Programme, and this has led to a reduction in the number of incidents and a safer travelling experience for local people,” said Miriam Flynn, South-West Regional Manager, Bus Éireann.

At today’s event, Cllr John Gilligan, Mayor of Limerick, was joined by Barry Coyle, Manager, External Communications, Bus Éireann in paying tribute to the young people who have participated in this year’s programme.

The programme is run by Limerick Bus Éireann employee, Ger Doran, who visits schools and engages children in a thought-provoking and lively discussion about these issues. In 2008, Ger visited 24 schools and spoke with over 3,000 children.

The aim of the programme is to highlight to children the important role the bus plays in the life of the community and how vandalism adversely affects neighbourhoods.

In the broadest sense, the programme seeks to get children at a young age to start thinking about the concept of community and as such it is a very positive initiative for the community a whole.

As part of the school visits, a specially commissioned DVD is screened, which brings to light the negative effects of vandalism and anti-social behaviour. The DVD has proved particularly effective at illustrating the wasteful and harmful effects of bus vandalism. During the school visits, children are also invited to participate in the annual art and poetry competition with an anti-vandalism message. At today’s event, Mayor Gilligan announced the winners of this year’s competition and presented them with an official copy of the calendar.

The Issue of Bus Vandalism

Bus vandalism can take the form of stones being thrown at buses, windows being broken, graffiti, seats being slashed and various types of anti-social behaviour against drivers. Such attacks jeopardise the lives and safety of passengers and drivers. It is also a significant cost to the company and adversely affects the provision of city services to customers when buses are off the road for repair.

The aim of the programme is to bring home to communities and to school children in particular the adverse effects of bus vandalism: the inconvenience to customers as well as the injury and potential loss of life that are caused as a result of bus vandalism and anti-social behaviour towards drivers.

Competition Winners
The winners of this year’s competition, which feature in the 2009 Bus Éireann Community Awareness Programme Calendar, are:

January
Picture: Morgan McNamara, Age 12, 6th Class, Scoil Phadraig Naofa Buachailli
Poem: Lorna Madden, Age 11, St Brigid’s National School

February
Picture: Shelly Keyes, 5th Class, Scoil Modhscoil
Poem: Adam Reeves, Age 12, 6th Class, Christ the King Caherdavin

March
Picture: Sarah O’Leary, Age 10, St Paul’s NS, Dooradoyle
Poem: Ellen Carey, 6th Class, Salesian Primary School

April
Picture: Vilnis Vorobjovs, 4th Class, JFK School
Poem: Ailish O’Brien, 5th Class, St Mary’s GNS

May
Picture: Joanne Sheehan, 5th Class, St Munchin’s GNS, Ballynanty
Poem: Evan Kelly, 6th Class, St Munchin’s CBS, Shelbourne Rd

June
Picture: William Stokes, St John the Baptist BNS
Poem: Chantelle Madigan, Age 11, 6th Class, Our Lady Queen of Peace

July
Picture: Gabriella Zubova, Age 11, 6th Class, Scoil Ide
Poem: Shane Nolan, CBS Sexton Street

August
Picture: Sean Quinlivan, 6th Class, St Mary’s Boys School
Poem: Megan O’Halloran, Age 10, 5th Class, Scoil Mhathair De

September
Picture: Yasmin McMahon, Age 11, Galvone National School
Poem: Falonne Benie, Age 10, 4th Class, Presentation Primary

October
Picture: Conor Ryan, Age 11, 6th Class, Gaelscoil Sheoirse Clancy
Poem: Sinead O’Brien, 4th Class, St Patrick’s Girls NS

November
Picture: Ian Tuite, Age 12, 6th Class, Corpus Christi National School
Poem: Shannon Marie Pyne, Age 10, St John’s Girls School

December
Picture: Kasia Sulowska, Age 10, Scoil Mhuire Banrion na hEireann
Poem: Katie Williams, 6th Class, Our Lady of Lourdes School

Tuesday, 16th December, 2008

lostexpectation

where the pictures?

1huge1

Didn't stop Bus Eireann from stopping buses go to UL till 11:30pm in the last month, I think they stop around 10pm now, said it was because too many drunk students at night or something...

watty

If you live outside the City Adult buses to cross town for work is impossible.
They don't have a decent service for kids
The kids can't do after school activities as they won't allow them on regular buses. Theve refused carriage to School kids even offering to pay full fare on basis kid is in Uniform thus may only travel on School Bus.

dowlingm

watty wrote: »

If you live outside the City Adult buses to cross town for work is impossible.
They don't have a decent service for kids
The kids can't do after school activities as they won't allow them on regular buses. Theve refused carriage to School kids even offering to pay full fare on basis kid is in Uniform thus may only travel on School Bus.

doesn't sound legal to me??? what's the basis for their refusal beyond simply asserting this?