Bus Éireann responds to Kildare TD's comments on School Transport Scheme

Bus Éireann (BE) has responded to concerns voiced by a Kildare North TD regarding the operation of the School Transport Scheme (STS).

The Leinster Leader asked BE to provide a statement regarding a call from Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy.

Kildare FM radio station reported yesterday that hundreds of schoolchildren are estimated to be without a schoolbus as the new academic year gets under way, despite paying for tickets earlier this year.

Ms Murphy, who is her party's spokesperson on transport matters, called on BE to outline what steps would be taken to address what she referred to as 'serious shortcomings' in the operation of the STS.

In response to the Leader, a spokesperson for BE said: "With schools returning on a staged basis this week, Bus Éireann has now issued school transport tickets to 130,000 students travelling on mainstream services.

"99 per cent of tickets have now issued to those who applied and paid on time, that is 23,000 more tickets issued to date this year, compared with the same time last year."

The spokesperson added that driver shortages 'are being experienced' in many sectors of the economy and throughout the country.

Kildare North TD Catherine Murphy. File photograph.

They elaborated: "In recent weeks, Bus Éireann issued tickets for mainstream school transport on bus services that had already been secured.

"Unfortunately, in recent days, a number of difficulties have arisen in some localities with a small number of contracted services.

"Very regrettably, in a small number of specific locations contractors have advised us that it has not yet been possible to provide vehicles / drivers in time for the start of the school year.

"While the situation is dynamic with solutions being found, currently this represents approximately two per cent vehicles operating mainstream school transport services.

"Bus Éireann has contacted affected families directly and will maintain communications with them."

The spokesperson further said that in the event that this period is unavoidably extended beyond the end of this week, then further contact will be made with the families affected by Friday, September 1: "This will be to ensure that an interim arrangement to assist with the cost of alternative arrangements for the families affected is accessible to those who need it.

"The Department of Education is currently in the process of establishing an 'Exceptional No Service Interim Grant' which, will be based on the number of days children attend school and will be made available to the families.

"The grant is only available to the small number of families who have already received a school transport ticket from Bus Éireann, and where difficulties have meant that transport will not be in place for the start of the school year on August 28, and Bus Éireann have contacted these families directly.

"Families do not need to make an application for the exceptional payment, those who have been issued a ticket, and do not have a service in place will be contacted after September 1, 2023."

The spokesperson concluded: "Work continues to resolve this matter and we are committed to providing transport to these students as quickly as is possible."

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ORIGINAL STATEMENT

The initial statement made by Catherine Murphy TD can be viewed below:

"There is a perception that this is exclusively a rural problem but it is also a major issue in commuter belt counties such as Kildare.

"When the Department of Education builds large 1,000-pupil schools, the catchment will be wide.

"However, very often schools are full so students can’t get into the one closest to them where there might be public transport options.

She continued: "Many constituents have been telling me about the stress of trying to get children to three different schools every morning, with some even considering giving up work as a result.

"Others are paying more than €750 a year on private transport arrangements and, due to the pressure of mortgages, will not be in a position to sustain the cost this year."

"My office has been inundated with representations on the school transport issue, which I have consistently raised with the Minister for Education," Ms Murphy continued.