Extra school transport routes for Letterkenny called for

A Letterkenny councillor has asked the council to contact Bus Éireann to request additional school transport.

Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh, Fine Gael, put forward the motion to request an extra school transport route from the Glebe area to Woodlands N.S. at the most recent Letterkenny-Milford MD meeting.

Cllr Kavanagh says he has been approached by parents of pupils in the school who say they have purchased Bus Éireann school transport tickets for the year, but find that the drop-off points are too far to walk and unsafe.

“They have been told by Bus Éireann that there is nothing they can do,” he said, “so parents have found themselves that despite having already paid €100 for bus tickets, they are having to use a private service or drive them themselves.”

Cllr Kavanagh stressed the importance of an extra route, as he feels as though many families may be unable to do the school runs themselves and it could help alleviate some of the congested traffic in the area.

Cllr Ciaran Brogan, Fianna Fáil, seconded the motion, saying “we need to have some kind of discussion with Bus Éireann… I think that would address the traffic situation we have in and around Letterkenny.”

Cllr Brogan shared he has discussed this with the bus company before, and says that he thinks there is a ‘gap between parents and Bus Éireann.’

“Public services need to be more available and explain the situation to people,” Cllr Brogan said, “it's unfair if you live within the town's boundaries.”

Woodland N.S., located on the Ramelton Road, has applied for the Safe Routes to School programme, but has not yet been selected for funding.

At an earlier meeting in July of this year, the council said the Safe Routes to School programme is administered by An Taisce, and they do not have a role in the selection of projects.