Solutions urgently needed to bus children to school – Nelson Murray

Families are again facing into September without buses to get children to school and urgently need common sense solutions, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Linda Nelson Murray, who is a member of the Oireachtas Education Committee, said she is aware of a number of families in her own constituency in Meath, as well as parts of Kildare and Wicklow, who despite being issued with school bus tickets, have been told their service cannot commence.

Senator Nelson Murray said: “This has been a very stressful situation for both parents and children who have had to figure out alternative ways to get their kids to and from school at very short notice.

“They thought they were all set when the tickets were issued, only to have been told that the school bus couldn’t then be laid on because of difficulties with contractors and drivers.

“Now they are relying on neighbours, family members and other cobbled-together plans to get their kids to school for the year ahead. It’s stressful for them and costly.

“Theoretically, the school bus transport system is a win for families, commuters and families, as it should result in less cars on our already congested roads.

“Currently, 170,000 children will travel on school buses in this school year, which really is positive, but we have to do better for next year.

“We need a plan of action to ensure we have the required number of busses and drivers. Now is the time to increase the age allowable to drive a bus to over 70. If someone is in good health, with their driving licence, then why shouldn’t they be allowed to drive a bus? We also need to question why zero bids were received for a service?

“My own daughters use the bus service, so I am one of the lucky ones where our service wasn’t affected, but I can imagine what it is like for some parents trying to get to work, particularly in rural areas.

“The delivery of the service appears to be too cumbersome and it’s not working as effectively as it should be. It’s time to remove some of the red tape to provide a more stream-lined, accessible service for next year.”