Cork parents at 'wits' end' over shortage of school bus places

Renewed calls have been made for a second school bus to be added to serve students attending Coláiste an Chroí Naofa in Carrignavar, with parents said to be at their “wits’ end” with the current oversubscribed service.

Earlier this year, a group of parents, chaired by activist Mandy O’Leary-Hegarty of Sinn Féin, launched a petition in a bid to secure an additional school bus, claiming that in September 2023 “the school bus was oversubscribed yet again”.

“Again, we find ourselves in the exact same situation,” Ms O’Leary-Hegarty told The Echo in recent days.

“This isn’t a Bus Éireann issue. This is coming from national Government because they’re the ones that allocate the funds.”

Stressful

Principal Colm O’Corcora said the school has highlighted the issue with local public representatives and with the Department of Education.

“At the moment, I have 16 children that I’m aware of that do not have a place on the bus,” said Mr O’Corcora.

“Not only do we have students who are coming into first year and were excited about coming here and have the usual worries about settling in, now they have the additional worry of how are they going to get to school.

“We’ve also then got students who have had a place on the bus up to third year who are now going into fifth year or transition year and they haven’t got a place on the bus, and I have two students who have a place on the bus all the way through their time with us and now they’re going into sixth year and they don’t have a place on the bus.

“It’s really causing an awful lot of anxiety among students and parents.

“Some of the parents that I’ve spoken to are at their wits’ end because they have no idea how they’re going to get their kids to school. My heart goes out to them. It’s very, very stressful.”

Thomas Gould, Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, said he has written to the minister for education requesting two additional buses for school transport in Cork, one to serve communities in Glenville travelling to Fermoy and another to serve those in Upper Glanmire travelling to Carrignavar.

Criteria

A Department of Education spokesperson said: “All eligible pupils on the route who applied and paid/entered medical card details on time who meet the criteria for the School Transport Scheme have been issued tickets.

“Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and will be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated.

“Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.”

The spokesperson said that at the closing date for payment, June 7, some 138,700 payments were received nationally in respect of applications for primary and post-primary school transport services for the 2024/2025 school year.

“Bus Éireann is continuing to allocate tickets as planning for routes is finalised,” the spokesperson said.

“Families who are unsuccessful in obtaining a seat have been notified via email, and a refund will issue.”

The spokesperson added that a review of the School Transport Scheme was completed in February and that the Government is “committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendation of expanding access to the scheme”.