Call for 10,000 additonal school bus places

As the chaos around school buses continues, Education Minister Norma Foley has been called on to “come out of hiding and solve the crisis by Deputy Darren O'Rourke,

“Yesterday Minister Foley refused a request to appear before the Oireachtas Education Committee in order to solve the school transport shortage chaos.

“Now we are informed by Bus Éireann, in at least one area that 'additional capacity is not being sought for concessionary pupils who did not secure tickets for the 22/23 school year'.

“So that’s it? If this is the position across the state, Bus Éireann, and by extension the Minister and the Government have no desire in seeking additional capacity.

"Simply, hoping that parents just get on with it and this all blows over. Families are being left high and dry without school transport because of the incompetence of this Government and parents are expected to clean up the Government’s mess on their own.

“All the while Minister Foley is in hiding from a disaster of her own making, refusing to attend the Education Committee despite being offered no less than five possible dates to appear.

“Her decision shows a lack of respect for these families left stranded without school transport.

“School transport chaos is the new normal for so many families due to government incompetence. In the midst of a cost of living crisis, we have this crazy situation where there are now parents across the country faced with the reality of giving up work because of this mess.

“This is completely unacceptable and the silence from Minister Foley is damning. We in Sinn Fein are calling for 10,000additional bus places across the country."

Meanwhile, Cllr Aisling Dempsey said that in a time of climate crisis, the current school transport chaos was pushing even more cars ontot he road.

“The announcement of free school transport in response to the spiralling cost of living crisis was so very welcome when announced by Minister for Education, Norma Foley”, said Cllr  Dempsey.

“However, it was not envisaged how many people would apply for the bus who never availed of school transport before and now families in the Trim area who rely on the bus service are facing chaos - having to find new ways to get their kids to school, having to source and pay for private transport and/or altering working hours to suit. It is entirely unacceptable and unsustainable for working parents or those without their own mode of transport.

“Many families in and around Trim town are not eligible for transport to the Gaelscoil for example, however, have enjoyed concessionary tickets for years now. Due to the increase of interest in tickets and the lottery system applied, many families in Butterstream and Avondale as examples are left without a bus place for their children. In one case, two children in one household have been given a seat but the third child has not.

“Another family is borrowing a car for the morning drop off and paying a taxi for the evening return.

“In Ballivor, two buses travel to Trim daily. Parents tell me there are up to 32 seats free across the buses every day while they travel behind in their cars with their children who’ve been refused transport this year.

“While it was their right to apply for the bus, I am appealing to anyone who does not need to use the bus to please cancel their ticket, to free it up for those who desperately need it.

“I am also aware of some of last years Leaving Cert students receiving tickets for this year. If those students/parents could please notify Bus Eireann it might go some way to alleviating the issue.

“I am liaising with both Bus Eireann and the Minister’s Office to see what can be done to rectify the current situation,” concluded Cllr Dempsey.