Bus seating policy forces families on 40-mile school runs

FAMILIES in rural Ireland are facing daily school runs of up to 40 miles because new seating arrangements have reduced space on school buses.

Fine Gael transport spokesperson Olivia Mitchell said the Government’s decision to end the practice of allowing three second-level students share two seats is unacceptable.

“The Government has reached a new low when plans to ensure a seat for every child can only be achieved by getting rid of pupils instead of getting new buses,” she said.

The impact of the one-seat-per-pupil arrangement has emerged in recent days, as families have been told their children can no longer be accommodated. They are among 7,500 students who live outside the catchment area of the school they attend. Up to now, they have been allocated spare seats on a year-to-year basis on buses for which priority is given to children who live in the catchment area of the school concerned.

It is estimated that up to 6,000 pupils may now have to arrange their own travel or move to a school for which they can avail of transport.

The National Parents Association of Vocational Schools and Community Colleges said there may be problems for children starting second level, whose older siblings already use the school bus service. A spokesperson said parents who work will have to drop children off an hour before schools open, raising questions about pupil safety.

Labour Party Kerry South TD Breeda Moynihan Cronin asked why this was happening so soon before the beginning of the school year and called on Education Minister Mary Hanafin to clarify the position for hundreds of school children facing uncertainty about getting to and from school.

The National Congress of Catholic Secondary Schools Parent Associations called for Ms Hanafin’s department to review the school catchment boundaries, which have not been changed since being drawn up in 1967.

The Department of Education has said the affected students have never been guaranteed school transport system places. A spokesperson said there are no plans to review the catchment boundaries.