New bus practices may force children to change schools

Niall Murray, Education Correspondent

The decision to scrap the situation where three post-primary students can share two seats on a school bus was prompted by concerns about safety and is to be followed by a similar measure for all primary pupils from next year. It was one of a number of measures, including phased introduction of seat belts, announced by Education Minister Mary Hanafin a fortnight ago.

But the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) has said up to 6,000 children who avail of spare seats on school buses could be left without a seat when classes begin later this month. The IVEA represents the 33 Vocational Education Committees (VECs) which liaise with Bus Éireann on school transport issues.

Of almost 140,000 children carried on school buses daily, around 7,500 second level students are categorised as catchment boundary passengers. They are eligible to receive transport to a school nearer their homes but have chosen to attend school in another catchment area.

Under a long-standing practice, they are allocated spare seats when pupils living in their school’s catchment area are accommodated.

But in letters to VECs in the past fortnight, Bus Éireann has indicated that the vast majority of catchment boundary students may no longer be accommodated on some routes. It is feared the final figure could be as high as 80%, representing approximately 6,000 students.

“This will lead to major difficulties for children and their parents who will have to decide if they can afford alternative private transport,” said IVEA general secretary Michael Moriarty.

The Department of Education said catchment boundary students have never been guaranteed school transport for the duration of their schooling, but are only allocated places on a year-to-year basis.