These shocking pictures show a packed, early morning Dublin Bus on Friday which passengers claimed was "jammed" and "operating at nearly 50% capacity" not at the recommended 25%.
These snaps were taken on a city centre route at around 7:15am as essential workers - most of whom were heroic doctors and nurses and other healthcare staff headed for a tough and long shift at a Dublin Hospital - made their way to work.
The packed double-decker had passengers bumper to bumper like pre-Covid times with users even going as far as describing it as "being as busy as a Dublin Bus from one year ago".
Only a maximum of 17 people are allowed on board per bus under new Level 5 lockdown rules.
In addition to this restriction, all public transport is supposed to be operating at 25% capacity.
One passenger said that the bus was "packed all the way to the hospital".
He told Dublin Live: "It was like a normal bus from one year ago, absolutely jammed".
"I told the driver that the bus was overcrowded and breaching guidelines and he said 'I'm here to drive the bus, not police it'.
Another passenger said: "There was more than 50% capacity on the bus, I would say.
"I was sitting up stairs and people even had to sit beside each other, in the seats to get seats."
A spokesman for Dublin Bus told Dublin Live that "this incident is currently under investigation".
He said: "The safety of customers and employees is our number one priority.
"Dublin Bus will continue to be guided by the Government, HSE, Department of Health and other relevant government agencies to inform decisions during Covid 19.
"We are following all public health instructions that are issued by the Government and the Department of Health.
He added: "With this in mind, we have introduced a number of additional health and safety measures since March 2020. These include:
- Updated social distancing signage to reflect the move to 25% capacity on public transport
- On-board ventilation stickers to remind customers to keep windows open
- On-board public health announcements
- Enhanced cleaning at terminus points
- Enhanced cleaning of driver's cabs and touch points
- Updated on-board social distancing stickers
- Introduction of contact tracing log books across all employee locations
- Hand sanitiser across all employee locations
He concluded: "All of these measures are aimed at protecting customers, employees and the wider community during Covid-19."
