Wicklow councillor calls for clarity on school bus fiasco as children left stranded

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore has called for urgent clarity on the school bus fiasco that has unfolded this week.

“Every year from June onwards a huge number of parents contact my office asking for help with the School Transport Scheme and every year we have to deal with the same problems, it is an annual and predictable School Transport Crisis.”

“However, this year has been extremely chaotic, particularly in County Wicklow. One particular issue, highlighted by quite a large volume of parents, is the no-show of a number of expected buses on established bus routes and the complete lack of communication from Bus Eireann on the matter.”

“In a number of these cases, children have been left stranded on the side of the road waiting for a bus that was never going to arrive, despite their ticket having already been allocated and approved by Bus Eireann.”

“With no communication on the matter from Bus Eireann and with parents not knowing whether or not their child’s school bus is operating, some parents have had to take the decision to temporarily move their child to a relative’s home in a different town so that they can get to school, with other parents having to leave work and rescue their child from the side of the road on the day the school bus didn’t arrive. In one case a parent has advised that they will have to hand in their notice if the bus route is not reinstated so that their child can get to school,” explained Deputy Whitmore.

“The issue of the school bus not running as promised is one thing, and I am in contact with Bus Eireann on that issue, but not letting parents know is another. As parent’s we need to be able to plan and make sure that our children are safe and catered for. It is unacceptable that children were left stranded and that parents were not informed.  I have spoken to Bus Eireann and they have told me they are searching for solutions and that they would update Parents on their individual routes on Friday.” Concludes Whitmore