Bus Éireann may leave school students stranded

Buses to any rural national school that fails to provide a minimum of ten pupils for daily collection may stop

BUS ÉIREANN will leave school students stranded from September if they don’t reach the numbers the public transport service wants, according to information received by Meath Sinn Féin Councillor Joe Reilly.

Joe told An Phoblacht:

“I’ve been told Bus Éireann is considering abolishing the school transport system to any rural national school that fails to provide a minimum of ten pupils for daily collection.”

The Sinn Féin councillor said this would cause massive problems for families with small children in country areas who have no car or those who are working and are dependent on school transport.

Any cuts also raise questions about children's health and safety if they are forced to use busy public roads to walk to school, Joe Reilly pointed out.

He noted that Education Minister Ruairí Quinn recently said on radio that cutbacks would not endanger children’s health and safety.

Joe Reilly said such a move would be another erosion of basic and essential services to families and young people living in rural Ireland.

The Sinn Féin councillor appealed to Bus Éireann bosses to engage in genuine consultation with the schools, parents and teachers before they make any far-reaching decisions on this vital public service.