TD says move an important help for workers and a necessary
safety measure for drivers and others
Bríd Smith TD has
called on Shane Ross and the NTA to operate all public transport for free
during the Covid 19 crisis.
The People Before
Profit TD said the move would help frontline workers at this time and would be
especially beneficially to many medical students currently working in the
health service and receiving no payments.
She said: “There
are many categories of students such as pharmacists and radiographers who are
now effectively drafted into the front line of this fight but still receive no wages
for their work. They can’t find work to help them through their final year of
study and I really believe this is a simple measure that we need to take
immediately to help all front line workers in retail, manufacturing etc, as
well as health. Many are low paid and transport can be a big part of their
living expenses.”
The TD also pointed
out that fare free transport would also help reduce contact between drivers and
passengers allowing safer use of public transport for all workers.
“The less interaction
and exchanges between drivers and passengers the better in stopping any
possible transmission of this virus, I appeal to the government and the NTA to
introduce fare free transport as a immediate measure”.