I have called on the Department of Transport to ensure that all students are accommodated on the school transport system in September.
‘I am receiving calls from many concerned parents that their children are being refused discretionary tickets this year’.
In some cases, the students received the tickets for the last three years. First year students are being refused whilst their older siblings were accommodated.
The system needs to change to allow Bus Éireann to make provision to accommodate students.
It is especially crucial in rural areas and national and secondary schools are affected.
The school bus is passing their doors but cannot stop for the students. It is a nightmare for parents who are under enough stress without school transport being another headache.
‘I have been told that parents are put in a position when one of them may have to give up work. This is totally unacceptable during the COVID-19 crisis’.