Bus Eireann Indicate 7 Schoolbus Routes In Wicklow Still Not Operating

TD Jennifer Whitmore says families are being left at breaking point because of the ongoing School Transport crisis in Wicklow.

Deputy Whitmore raised the issue in the Dáil during a Question on Policy or Legislation (QPL) sitting which was being taken by Minister Heather Humphreys who has responsibility for Rural Communities.

Highlighting the impact that the ongoing lack of school buses is having on families in some of Wicklow’s most rural communities, Ms Whitmore asked Minister Humphreys if she had any concerns about the ongoing crisis and what the Minister for Education was doing to resolve the situation.

“We are now over seven weeks into the new school term and there are at least seven school bus routes in Wicklow still not in operation. I am being contacted by families who are at absolute breaking point from juggling work and family commitments with getting their children to and from school. These families were all allocated school bus tickets and paid for these tickets before the summer break. The current situation is completely unfair, unacceptable, and unsustainable,” commented Ms Whitmore, who is the Social Democrats spokesperson for Children.

“There has been little to no communication from Bus Éireann to the families who are still without a school bus service. When parents call the Bus Éireann dedicated call centre for more information or an update they are now being directed to fill out an online form with their query. This is simply not good enough and I was very disappointed with the response I got from Minister Humphreys when I raised this situation with her in the Dáil,” added Deputy Whitmore.

 “Many of the school bus routes still not in operation in Wicklow are in our most rural areas. These are communities who do not have alternative transport options, they don’t have public transport. It is disappointing that when I raised the situation with the Minister with responsibility for our rural communities, she spoke about the children who had been supplied by school buses and not those who have been forgotten and are still waiting for their school bus to turn up,” explained Ms Whitmore.

“The School Transport crisis is becoming an annual occurrence for some families in Wicklow with several of the routes impacted this year also impacted in previous years. Last year some school bus routes were not in operation until December or even April, this is not good enough. I have previously called on the Minister for Education to put measures in place so that this situation was not repeated but here we are again.”

“Schools go back at the same time every year, it isn’t a surprise and advance planning should be done to ensure that school buses routes are ready for when children are returning to school. If a shortage of qualified bus drivers is the issue, as mentioned by Minister Humphreys, then I would again call on the Department of Education to introduce training courses throughout the year targeted at people interested in upskilling and taking on this kind of work.”

 “We are two weeks away from the October mid-term break, this situation cannot be allowed to continue for any longer. I am calling on the Minister for Education to take immediate action, deliver these promised school bus routes and help these children get to school,” concluded Deputy Whitmore.