100 families waiting to hear school transport appeal results

Over 100 Meath families are still waiting to hear the result of their school transport appeals.

Recent figures show 102 families in Meath are still awaiting a decision, while over 1,300 nationally are left without transport.

In Cavan, 55 families are waiting, while nine families in Dublin are waiting. In Louth there are 83 families and in Kildare 116 families are waiting on the results of their appeal.

This has led to calls for a complete overhaul of the school bus appeals process.

"One hundred and two Meath families are left in limbo due to the inability of the school transport appeals system to process appeals in a timely manner," said Cllr Elaine McGinty.

She was speaking after figures were released to Labour TD Seán Sherlock.

“Nationally we have 1,300 families left without school transport and we still have 102 families waiting without transport.

“Thirty-seven per cent of the total appeals the Department have dealt with, have come from Dublin. The Minister needs to ditch the Dublin centric approach and ensure that transport appeals across the country are dealt with in a timely manner.

“We are now returning after the Christmas holiday with 102 families in Meath still left in limbo for the New Year, five months on from the start of the school year.

“The school bus system and in particular the appeals system needs a complete overhaul. The Department should be able to give families an answer to their appeal within weeks and not months.

Minister Norma Foley said in the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.

"In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the current school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures. Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport.

“This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.

"Decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Dept of Education regarding the provision of school transport services and/or grant-aid under the terms of the School Transport Schemes may be appealed to the School Transport Appeals Board.

“This Board is independent in the performance of it’s functions but acts in accordance with ) its Terms of Reference as determined by the Minister and a set of Operating Procedures."