No seat on bus for 2,000 pupils

More than 2,000 children are either still waiting to see if they have a seat on a school bus for the new term, or have just learned that their application was unsuccessful.

Bus Éireann confirmed the figures amid criticism that, as schools reopen after the summer, some parents received just one week’s notice that their application for transport had been refused.

While children are eligible if attending their nearest school and satisfy the distance criteria, those who do not go to their closest school can apply for transport on a concessionary basis only.