Louth Senator says School Transport Review will be welcome

Changes recommended in a review of the School Transport scheme will result in positive changes for rural students and their families in Louth, says Louth based, Senator John McGahon. 

Senator McGahon who says he has consistently highlighted difficulties rural students in Louth have had in securing transport to school, said last week: “the School Transport review recommendations are extremely welcome for school-going families across the country.

“I have consistently requested the expedition of this review, especially as we see so many challenges in rural areas to accommodate working families who have no other options but school transport to bring their children to school.”

It follows a Private Members Motion by Senator McGahon and party colleagues calling for extra capacity to be made available so that all families who have submitted applications could avail of the scheme.

“In the Seanad, I proposed together with our Fine Gael members, an increased budget for over 160,000 pupils and to remove the restrictive criteria where students must reside a certain distance from their nearest school. I had a particular focus on rural areas as well as safety at our schools with school bus drop-offs reducing car journeys on dangerous country roads.

“Today is a landmark day for the School Transport system in Ireland and with additional budget allocated, we will ensure more families will have the choice of school transport especially in rural areas. It makes it far easier and streamlines the school transport scheme.

"Children no longer have to go to their nearest school and distances are reduced. That is going to resolve a lot of the problems I have worked on in the last few years, particularly the bus routes in rural areas such as Anagassan and Castlebellingham, Cooley and Ravensdale.” 

“This will make the school transport system far more fair and equitable in that more students are going to be able to get the bus and there won’t be the discrimination towards students based on what school they are going to and whether they get a ticket or not. 

“One of the rules was that you had to go to your nearest school to avail of a ticket. The reduction in distance to 2 kilometres for primary and post-primary schools in rural areas where there is no other choice of transport will be a huge support to working parents who struggle to travel to work as well as doing school pick up & drop-offs.

"And the intention is to reduce that to 1 km for primary schools in the next phase. Our schools will become safer places with a reduction in car journeys especially during hectic school pick-up & drop-offs.

“The term concessionary has been frustrating and confusing for families. People who have applied for school transport will now be offered spare seats when eligible students are accommodated.

“One issue I am concerned that has not been resolved is that bus drivers aged over 70 are still not allowed to drive school buses. There is clearly a lack of drivers for the school runs and allowing them to stay on would help with this shortage."

The Fine Gael Senator added, “overall, today’s announcement is very welcome. I made a submission to the Minister on this issue and I am glad she taken the feedback on board. 

“Every August and September, my office is inundated with queries on the school bus issue and children unable to get bus seats so this reform of the school transport scheme will go a long way to help solve it.”