Anger expected as scale of school bus crisis revealed

Niall Murray, Education Correspondent

Parents of hundreds of children have already held meetings around the country in recent weeks as it emerged that there may be a critical shortage of space on school buses because of a Government decision to scrap the three-for-two seating arrangement for second level pupils from September. This is expected to lead to a transport crisis in many areas but there has been disagreement about the level of disruption expected.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin this week expressed confidence that there will be enough space to allow most catchment boundary students to continue using the school transport scheme. These are students who are not living in the designated catchment area of the school they attend, and are only accommodated on buses after eligible students have been given seats.