Fears over plan to cut Cork school bus service sees 250 people attend public meeting

Fears of a school’s pupil and staff numbers being slashed by half saw more than 250 parents, teachers, and national politicians attend a public meeting on proposals to reduce bus services for students.

Controversial plans to reduce the number of school bus services to Bishop Galvin Central School in Newcestown, Co Cork, from September is expected to have a significant impact on both pupil and staff numbers at the school.

“These changes would impact on about 40% of our current intake — basically about 40% of our students would lose their transport to the school and would have to move to another school,” said school principal Donie Keane, who explained many of the school’s 216 pupils came from up to 10km away.