Dublin Bus has launched a driver recruitment campaign targeted at women looking for flexible or part-time work.
The company says only 8% of bus drivers are women, so they are offering part-time roles, requiring just two days a week commitment, to try to increase the number of female drivers.
It is holding a series of recruitment open days in the coming weeks where women can get behind the wheel and drive a bus while also talking to other female drivers about their experience of working for the company.
Talent, Training and Diversity Manager with Dublin Bus Vivienne Kavanagh said they hope the part-time roles that require a commitment of just two days a week – Sunday and one other day – will attract women looking for flexibility and stability.
She said roles give people the opportunity to combine meaningful well-paid work with family life, caring responsibilities, study, or other commitments.
“We’ve always said that we want our bus drivers to be representative of the communities we serve. We know that women still have the majority of the care and responsibilities in society. This hopefully offers women more flexibility to be able to work around their childcare or other responsibilities that they have.
“It’s a permanent job, it’s a stable job and they hopefully in the future, if they want, they can become full time and possibly progress in the company as well,” Ms Kavanagh said..
Vivienne Kavanagh is hoping the flexible role will appeal to women
Dublin Bus driver Wendy Ward left working behind the counter in a chipper to join Dublin Bus three years ago, after being encouraged by her brother who is also a bus driver.
She said she was initially wary of the idea of driving a double decker bus but did not take long to settle in.
“He kept on asking me to go, and I was a bit nervous because of the size of them, and I was just thinking, ‘I don’t think I can do it’. But then with the training and all, you just gain confidence.
“It’s exciting. It’s a little bit nerve-racking at first, but then when you have the trainer there and he has a break, you know that if anything goes wrong, he can help you.
“I was working in a chipper, and I was cleaning before, so it was a big change. I was quite happy to kind of just be in the background, doing orders and stuff like that.
“Coming into Dublin Bus was great because I’m always getting out. I’ve seen more of the city than I ever did – and I’m from Dublin – so it’s just great to see all the new places. I have a responsibility to get people from A to B, so like that’s great and it’s always great to chat to people,” explained Ms Ward.
The mother of two from Tallaght said the working hours also suit her personal life.
“It gives you the flexibility to have family time. I work a Saturday and a Sunday. So that frees me up for the rest of the week then. It just gives me the flexibility just to be at home and to get other things in your life done, Sunday is a great day to work because there’s not much traffic, there’s not many people around, so Sunday suits me,” added Ms Ward.
Natalia Stratan, who has been a bus driver since 2019, and worked for Dublin Bus since 2024 said she was inspired to do the job when she saw another woman driving a Dublin Bus.
As a single parent, Natalia Stratan said the job provided her with financial stability
“I did cleaning before and I got to a supervising position. It was a job that was much more stressful because you had to manage a lot of people, a lot of schedules and you would always take the job home.
“With bus driving, I park the bus and I’m going home and I’m happy with my family there. I don’t have to think what’s happening with the buses because there’s a whole other crew that manages that,” said Ms Stratan.
“I became a single mom, and my kids need me more now so I decided to move to the 30 hours contract. It’s Monday to Friday. I’m off on weekends, and I can spend the evenings with my daughters, and I can manage my other responsibilities and commitments.
“I love the job because it gives me financial stability and made it possible for me to buy an apartment,” said Ms Stratan.
“My first garage in Dublin was Clontarf. We have some very scenic routes there. Seeing those views every day makes you feel like like you’ve won the lottery. Maybe for people who live in Dublin forever, the scenery is not much – but for me, a girl who grew up in a little town in Moldova, seeing the sea every day, it’s very nice,” said Ms Stratan.
Eastern Correspondent Samantha Libreri takes the wheel of a Dublin Bus
The starting hourly rate for a bus driver is €22.90 and the company is also recruiting for full-time drivers with starting salaries of €893.06 a week, rising to €1,034.03 per week after six years, with a five-day work week that includes shift and Sunday premiums.
Dublin Bus said employees also have access to a generous pension scheme, a subsidised medical scheme, paid maternity leave and access to gym facilities at Dublin Bus depots.
The recruitment open days are taking place in August and September on Saturday 15 August, Saturday 5 September and Saturday 26 September and people can register for a place at dublinbus.ie.