Concerns Raised After School Bus Routes In Wicklow Cut At Late Notice

Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore has called on the Minster for Education to take swift action to resolve issues with the school bus scheme, as routes across Wicklow are cancelled by Bus Eireann at late notice.

Deputy Whitmore said, “Parents from across Wicklow were informed today via email from Bus Eireann that the school bus that was scheduled to bring their child to school next Monday, is now no longer operating and wont be available for the return to school next week. There was no reason given for this extraordinary situation, and no alternatives were provided to parents, who now have to scramble for a way to get their child to school for the start of the school year.

“This is a completely unacceptable situation, and puts parents under enormous pressure, particularly those that are working or have no access to a car. It is also a very stressful position for those students on the first week of the new term. As anyone who uses the school bus system will know, getting your child a seat on one of these buses can be a real battle and I have been working for parents across Wicklow this summer struggling to get places on their local school bus for their children. Now, even after securing the golden ticket for a school bus seat, many parents have now been let down at the last minute.”

Whitmore concluded “The Minster for Education must act immediately to avoid a situation where school children will have no means to get to school on their first week back. I have written to both Minister Foley and Bus Eireann seeking answers to the many questions that parents have, and I will continue to follow this up until it is resolved satisfactorily for parents. "