School transport chaos continues across the west

A west of Ireland TD has stated the school bus chaos continues and this government does not seem to be concerned whatsoever.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice said the situation, if anything, has gotten worse.

He elaborated: “On Friday evening last at 4:30, Bus Eireann sent out emails to children that were to start school next Monday and Tuesday saying that there was no ticket available to them.

“This is totally chaotic and the Minister for Education is not addressing the situation, leaving working families, especially, in serious trouble.

“In most families around the country, both parents are working full time and children have heretofore availed of the local bus.

"But now they are being left high and dry, it’s a despicable situation after all the promises that were made last summer by Minister Foley and the government.

“The government need to focus on the basics.

"Getting a school transport system that works across the country up and running is not complicated.

"If Minister Foley is not capable of sorting out this mess then the Taoiseach needs to intervene.

“Parents are at their wit’s end and there is no point in offering school transport free and then not having the buses available to cater for it.

“In all counties, we are seeing a surge, especially in the last few days of the number of children being left on the side of the road with bus tickets being issued and then cancelled.

“This is an unacceptable situation that our Taoiseach and Tánaiste, who don’t seem to be involved nor even care about the state of the school bus situation.

"Minister Ryan talks about improving rural transport when we cannot get the basics right as regards school transport.

“Let us start with getting the basics right. If, as a country, we can't do that, we are wasting our time talking about doing anything else to improve the state of rural transport."