Laois children lose lotto for Bus Éireann school bus seats
At least seven secondary school students have lost their bus seats due to a lottery draw by Bus Éireann that has left parents incensed.
Following on from similar problems last year, parents in Emo and The Rock have gathered to complain that their children have been left without school transport to Mountmellick Community School.
The parent's group fought an arduous but successful campaign last year to revive the Emo/The Rock school bus services to Mountmellick Community School.
However they now say that Bus Éireann has reduced the size of that bus, leaving too few seats for the number of students who registered and paid up months ago.
A meeting took place in Emo on September 7, chaired by the Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Cllr Paschal McEvoy, with Minister of State Sean Fleming also attending, both of Fianna Fáil.
Paula Crowley is a spokesperson for the parents and said the meeting was well attended. "Parents spoke passionately about the tough realities, absolute stress and upset experienced by their children and themselves as working parents, in trying to manage without this vital bus service.
"Their children had concessionary tickets for this bus, last year. However, due to a nonsensical and unjust lottery system operated by Bus Eireann - these parents were informed by email (less than two weeks before commencement of school) that the bus is full and tickets were not being issued," she claimed.She said that parents claim that Bus Eireann knew of the numbers requiring seats for this year well ahead of September.
"They had ample time for planning and organising a sufficient school bus service. All of the affected parents applied on-time for their bus tickets by April 28, paid on time before June 9 and have since lodged appeals with the School Transport Appeals Board.
"Furthermore parents were adamant that we do not want to be back in this position again next year. A bigger bus or additional bus is needed to meet the growing demand for this newly established bus route.
"It is obvious that Bus Eireann did not plan for the new students in first year using the bus this year; they completely overlooked this and the fact that there were no 6th year student finished with the bus this summer. This bus service is less than a year in operation, this is not an adequate amount of time to access the proper capacity or number of bus seats required," Ms Crowley said.
She said that the politicians have undertaken to "continue to work with the local parents' group". Laois TDs Brian Stanley and Charlie Flanagan were invited but both sent apologies for being unable to attend.
The group has thanked everyone who came to the meeting, and those who are supporting them locally including schools. They request continued support as they vow to "battle on" with their campaign.