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Dublin Bus has hired almost 100 drivers from South Africa
🇮🇪 Ireland /Culture & Society

Dublin Bus has hired almost 100 drivers from South Africa

From Irish Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Dublin Bus has hired nearly 100 drivers from South Africa to address staff shortages and service expansion.
  • The company, which has a diverse workforce from about 90 countries, aims to recruit around 200 drivers annually.
  • New hires undergo a process including license exchange, Irish residence permits, and company-specific training, with initial accommodation provided.

Dublin Bus is actively recruiting drivers from South Africa, having hired 93 individuals in recent months to fill vacant roles and support service expansion.

There is certain paperwork they need to do when they’re on the island of Ireland, get their Irish residence permit, complete their licence exchange … that’s part of the reason we went to South Africa – because there’s a licence exchange agreement. Also, it’s an English-speaking country and there’s a good strong pipeline of drivers. We’re working with an organisation that’s making sure they’re vetted and all of that. That’s all done over in South Africa, and then they come over to us so then they can go through our training.

— Barbara CarrollDublin Bus chief people officer Barbara Carroll explained the rationale behind recruiting from South Africa.

This international recruitment drive is part of a broader strategy to manage staff turnover and meet growing demand. The company, which employs staff from approximately 90 countries, has previously recruited mechanics from Spain and the Philippines. Barbara Carroll, Dublin Bus chief people officer, stated that the South African hires possess the necessary driving licenses, facilitating a smoother integration process due to existing license exchange agreements.

Drivers arriving from South Africa undergo a structured onboarding process. This includes obtaining an Irish residence permit, completing their license exchange, and participating in company training. Dublin Bus provides accommodation for the first four weeks to assist with the transition. Carroll noted that while these drivers are focused on completing training efficiently, the process can be challenging for them.

So, it’s tough for them. They are on a training rate and they are very focused on getting through the system as quickly as they can.

— Barbara CarrollBarbara Carroll described the challenges faced by new drivers during their initial period.

Carroll highlighted that the driver shortage is a national issue, not confined to Dublin Bus. The company plans to continue its recruitment efforts, aiming to hire about 200 drivers each year for the foreseeable future to maintain operational capacity and service levels.

There’s a national shortage, but we’re planning to continue the recruitment, about 200 drivers every year. Certainly for the foreseeable future.

— Barbara CarrollBarbara Carroll addressed the ongoing need for driver recruitment.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Irish Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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