Drivers will refuse to operate Dublin Bus services to west Tallaght from 6pm, due to "grotesque levels of violence" and anti-social behaviour on routes in the area.

The National Bus and Rail Union, which represents drivers in the area, and SIPTU notified Dublin Bus of the move by letter.

They apologised to commuters who will be impacted by the suspension of services, but said "the ordinary men and women driving buses have had enough of the almost daily diet of gratuitous violence" they face when operating in the area.

The decision follows 35 incidents of violence and vandalism in December alone, including one incident in which a woman bus driver was "terrorised by a huge mob".

From 6pm this evening (January 12th), routes 27, 65b and 77a will terminate at the Square Tallaght "until further notice".

The unions said it is "not tenable for bus drivers to risk life and limb driving buses into estates in west Tallaght to be attacked and assaulted".

They said the protocols that should "kick in when attacks take place have been ignored too many times".

The unions also said the restoration of bus services to normal alignments can only occur when "permanent solutions are put in place to guarantee the safety and well-being of bus workers".

In a statement, Dublin Bus said is engaging with both trade unions to resolve the issue and will update customers this afternoon.

Customers are advised to check the Dublin Bus website and social media channels for updates.

NBRU General Secretary Dermot O'Leary said that it is not just bus drivers who are being attacked and that passengers are also impacted.

Over the last year alone there have been 150 incidents reported, he said, including cases of racial abuse, threats with knives, canisters being thrown through bus windows and drug taking.

The following routes will terminate at the Square Shopping Centre: 27 / 77B / 65B

Route 56A will detour onto Cookstown way, while Route 65B will continue its route until Killinarden, and will use the 49 route to and from the Square.

#DBSvcUpdate Routes #DB27, #DB65b and #DB77a in the West Tallaght Area from Thursday 12 January 2023. https://t.co/Bn7CdT151F pic.twitter.com/yOS2tf1ysS

— dublinbusnews (@dublinbusnews) January 12, 2023