Kildare TDs raise concerns about school bus places for children

Kildare South Fine Gael TD and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has said that parents across Kildare South deserve clarification on school bus places for their children ahead of the new school term.

Speaking on Friday, Minister Heydon said, “After being inundated with queries from concerned parents, unsure as to whether or not a school bus service will be available for their children ahead of the new school term, I have been in regular contact with Bus Eireann this week seeking urgent clarification on the issue.”

“Unfortunately, this problem is impacting a number of parts of the county with school transport being the number one issue, and priority, that my office has dealt with this week.

“Primarily, the issue revolves around bus and driver availability, or lack thereof. It seems that bus drivers and companies are unable to service routes for Bus Eireann and have only clarified this to them at very late notice”.

Sinn Féin’s Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh has said that the cancellation of vital bus services for children is simply unacceptable, and all efforts should be explored to rectify this situation.

Deputy Ní Raghallaigh said Bus Éireann should immediately work to ensure that these children are not left without a bus service.

Teachta Ní Raghallaigh said: “I am shocked and angered to hear that Bus Éireann has cancelled several services across Kildare at the last minute”.

“This leaves parents in a difficult position. As children return to school on Monday, many parents will be left to worry over the weekend if they will be able to arrange travel to and from their school”.

“Many parents work full-time jobs and have no way, other than the bus, of getting their children to school .”

“I am seeking urgent clarity on this matter and have written to both Bus Éireann and the Minister for Education to rectify this situation”.

 “There needs to be full transparency and communication with Kildare parents on this matter.”

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Bus Éireann and the Department of Education must immediately outline how many Kildare pupils will be affected by the last-minute cancellation of bus services due to operate next week under the School Transport Scheme - that's according to Kildare North TD Aidan Farrelly.

Mr Farrelly was responding to news that Bus Eireann emailed thousands of parents nationally on Thursday evening (August 21) telling them that tickets which they had already paid for would not be honoured.

Bus Eireann has blamed a shortage of drivers and contractors.

Deputy Farrelly has also called on Bus Eireann and the Department of Education to outline what they plan to do to get the children to school, rather than leaving it up to parents to try to find last minute solution.

“With only days to go before the start of the new term, it is completely unacceptable that Kildare parents have just received emails from Bus Éireann to say no transport arrangements are yet in place for their child’s school route next week.

“This is despite the fact that these children were eligible to apply for the School Transport Scheme and had already been issued with tickets.

“According to Bus Éireann, which operates the scheme on behalf of the Department of Education, difficulties have arisen on a number of routes due to the lack of an available driver or contractor. In some cases, the company said zero bids were received for a service, despite repeated efforts to procure one.

“This is a problem that occurs every year and it is disgraceful that families are yet again being left high and dry.

"As a result of receiving such late notice, parents will be scrambling to make alternative arrangements for getting their children to and from school next week.

“Ultimately, we need to see the rollout of a nationwide school bus programme so that every student who needs transport can get it. This would ease cost-of-living pressures on families and help us meet our climate action targets by reducing the number of cars on our roads.

“For now, however, we need clarity from Bus Éireann and the Department of Education on which routes have been impacted, the number of students affected, and a realistic timescale for resolution.”

 Minister Heydon said, “I appreciate the significant investment that Government has allocated to the School Bus Transport Scheme, but as the scheme has grown exponentially in recent years, supply is required to keep up with demand.”

Concluding, Minister Heydon said :“I have stressed to Bus Eireann the frustration of families who have been let down at such short notice, with little or no time to sort alternative arrangements.  They have assured me that they are working on the matter, but that unfortunately it may take some time before all services are covered.

“I have also raised the concerns from Kildare with Minister with responsibility for school transport Michael Moynihan, who I know is working tirelessly to address this issue. I will continue to work to ensure that adequate bus services are provided in this area as soon as possible. Those who wish to raise specific cases with me can contact me on Martin.heydon@oireachtas.ie.”