Multiple schoolchildren in Co Cork left without school bus tickets a month into term

Families in Kildinan whose children attend Rathcormac National School say they were given a 'firm promise' that there would be school transport to Rathcormac when the local school closed

Some of the impacted children and their parents from Rathcormac National School in Co Cork. Picture: Evelyn Murphy

Multiple families who live in areas surrounding Rathcormac National School in Co Cork are still without bus places for their children a month into term time.

The school transport scheme saw a large rise in demand after the Government made a decision not to charge parents for tickets for the last academic year.

The decision, which was a response to the cost-of-living crisis, led to a 21% increase in tickets allocated to pupils and a 38% rise in tickets allocated on a concessionary basis. However, the surge in demand has meant some families have missed out.

Evelyn Murphy from Kildinan, Co Cork, has three children who have been left without bus tickets to go to their school in Rathcormac. The Murphy family are one of seven local families and 11 children in the area who have had to scramble to make alternative travel arrangements.

Ms Murphy said it had been a very hard time for the impacted families.

“We live so far from the school so the school bus was a lifeline. I used to put the kids on the bus and I would have time to go back down to milk the cows. Now I am on the road all the time. I am doing 36 miles in one day.

A school closed down here in Kildinan a good few years ago but there was a promise made that there would always be a bus for children into Rathcormac. It is crazy. The bus passes our house.” 

"It has had so much of an impact on the kids. They are heartbroken. Kids who are saying how come another child got a ticket and we didn’t. The impact is huge."

A second parent, Stephanie Jones, said a minibus should be put in place for children who didn't get a ticket for the 56-seat bus to the school.

She believes the population in the hinterland of Rathcormac is growing so much that an additional bus route for up to 50 children could be needed in the years ahead.

Families say they were 'shocked when we realised just how many children would not get school transport places.' Picture: Mark Stedman/RollingNews.ie

She said ultimately the community in Kildinan were given a “firm promise” that there would be school transport to Rathcormac when the local school closed many years ago.

“All we want is for that promise to be honoured.” 

Fellow impacted parent Paul Cashman said that the situation has caused huge upheaval to families.

"None of us saw this coming — we were shocked when we realised just how many children would not get school transport places."

Parent Deirdre O’Donovan said in addition to the pressures being placed on families, children also want to be on the bus with their friends.

"It has been very hard for the children who were on the school bus and are now being told they cannot travel on the service despite the fact their friends are on the bus."

Bus Éireann statement

In a statement, Bus Éireann said it operated the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department of Education and is catering for over 133,000 students.

"The purpose of the scheme is to provide transport for children living remotely from their nearest school.

"In Co Cork, a 7% increase of tickets has been issued to eligible and concessionary pupils in the county compared to this time last year.

Regarding scheme eligibility, the priority for arranging school transport is given to children who are deemed eligible for transport based on the current eligibility criteria.

"Concessionary seats are not guaranteed every year and can only be offered where there are spare seats on an existing school transport service.

"Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places.

In these cases, Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.” 

Education Minister Norma Foley previously said she was doing everything in her power to assist schoolchildren who have been left without a school bus.

In a recent interview with RTÉ, Ms Foley said she did not underestimate “the frustration, the stress and the pressure” that is being placed on impacted families.

“I really do regret that but I want to be very clear in relation to one or two points. In the first instance, no routes have been cancelled. What has occurred is that tickets were issued in good faith. Bus Éireann have responsibility in this area on behalf of the Department of Education.

"Tickets were issued. The routes were contracted and then at the last minute, some instances the night before, the day before, bus contractors handed back their contracts.

"That has led to enormous stress and enormous pressure on families. Bus Éireann are working assiduously ([on the matter]. In some instances, the contractors were not in the position to get bus drivers or there was an issue with buses themselves.

"Solutions have been found and Bus Éireann are continuing to work to ensure that solutions will be found and all routes will be reinstated.”