Councillor calls for review of school transport system

Councillor calls for review of school transport system


Anton McNulty

The ‘rigid’ online payment scheme for school bus tickets is putting many parents ‘to the pin of their collar’ according to a local councillor who has called for a review of the school transport system.
Following last week’s news that many students were still waiting for their school bus tickets to be issued, Sinn Féin councillor, Rose Conway-Walsh said it was just one of a list of problems with the school transport system and called for a review by the Department of Education and Skills.
Cllr Conway-Walsh said the payment method for the school bus tickets should also be reviewed as she felt it was putting financial pressure on parents.
“While Bus Éireann are making efforts to facilitate most children, the Department of Education and Skills has a responsibility to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.
“While the school transport scheme is generally ok, the fact that the rigid online payment scheme that forces parents to pay up to €650 in two installments leaves many parents to the pin of their collar when it comes to finances.
“There is no reason why this can’t be reviewed to look at the potential of introducing a monthly payment system, particularly now that there is a complete online payment system,” said the Belmullet based councillor.
Cllr Conway-Walsh also said changes needed to be made to bus routes at local level because she said students were being forced to go to different schools from the siblings due to changes to the system.
“There are problems with changes that have taken place to the system leaving many children unable to attend schools that siblings have gone to because they will be unable to avail of the school transport scheme. Ballycroy is a typical example of this where new students are being forced to attend the Achill school rather than the Belmullet schools their siblings have attended.
“Routes need to be revised to take into account changes in housing. Minor changes should be able to be made at a local level. A flexible approach and a bit of common sense would go a long way to meeting the needs of children.
“Considering the financial pressure parents are under when it comes to funding children’s education, between contributions and the cost of uniforms and many schools’ failure to introduce cost-effective book rental schemes, it is not a big ask for Minister Jan O’Sullivan to instruct her Department to review the scheme.”