School bus routes with less than 10 pupils face axe

School buses carrying less than 10 pupils to rural schools around Meath could be axed from next September, according to a local county councillor who warned this would have a detrimental effect on schools and rural families. Cllr Joe Reilly, Navan, said he has been informed that Bus Eireann is considering abolishing school transport to rural national schools from September 2012 unless the schools provide the numbers of pupils as set down by the company. "I have been informed that Bus Eireann are considering abolishing the school transport system to any rural national school that fails to provide a minimum of 10 pupils for daily collection," he said. "The implementation of such a decision could have a very detrimental effect on those schools, families that have no car, small children or those who are working and are dependent on school transport." He claimed any such decision also raises questions of children's health and safety if they are forced to use busy public roads to walk to school.