At a meeting in County Hall, many of the 55 councillors gave examples of problems in their various areas. They have decided to write a “strongly-worded” email to John Halligan, junior minister at the Department of Education & Skills, urging him to get more and bigger buses to solve the issue.

The Teachers' Union of Ireland is warning that a significant projected increase in the number of students in the country's third level institutions will greatly worsen the current crisis in the sector unless urgent action is taken.

JP McManus recently announced a further €32m investment in Third Level Education Scholarships for eligible students throughout Ireland, North and South.

Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan says she is determined to press ahead with reforms to the Junior Cert - despite rejection from teachers' unions.