More Buses needed to alleviate school transport issues - Gallagher

A local senator is calling on Bus Éireann to urgently address the current school transport structure.

Fianna Fáil Senator Robbie Gallagher says that the company must do more to utilise private bus operators to supplement the school bus fleet and make up for the problems caused by the 50% capacity rule at post-primary level.

“Every year my office is inundated with queries from concerned parents whose children are not entitled to full tickets. Some are offered concessionary tickets, but others are not,” said Senator Gallagher.

Senator Gallagher noted how the queries range from one child in a family getting a ticket while another child does not, children in one household getting tickets while children in a neighbouring household on the same lane or in the same estate do not and finally the lack of a guarantee of a ticket for the duration of a students’ post-primary school cycle.

“This year the 50% capacity due to Covid restrictions is being used as an excuse for not issuing tickets. However, subsequent to a review earlier this summer the Minister provided more funding for problem areas.

“This bus ticket issue causes a great deal of stress for families every year. Families apply for tickets in April and pay by July. It is now late August, the new school year is about to commence and yet some families have no ticket or even a means of communication with Bus Éireann. This is very frustrating.”

At both primary and post-primary level Bus Éireann says that all pupils who are deemed eligible and have paid before the deadline date are guaranteed their seats. However, under public health guidance, all post-primary services must operate at 50% capacity for social distancing purposes. After all eligible tickets have been issued, any remaining seats should be offered to “concessionary” pupils who have paid by the deadline. However, additional vehicles have not yet been secured to operate alongside some routes in order to offer the capacity needed for the remaining concessionary pupils. In these cases families are being advised there are no seats available.

Bus Éireann claims that securing additional vehicles has been hampered both by the availability of private buses in some areas and the shortage of public service vehicle licenced drivers in all counties.

“The current system is not working. The whole ticketing structure and catchment areas and routes need to be addressed but Bus Éireann must work harder to make alternative transport arrangements and bring in the extra capacity required as long as the 50% capacity rule is in place,” concluded Senator Gallagher.