Cork mum slams lack of reliable transport for son attending special school

The lack of reliable transport to take a five-year-old boy from Mayfield to his special school in Carrigtwohill is causing huge stress, his mother has told The Echo.

Leanne Thompson said she “constantly has to fight” for her son’s education, and a medical issue means she cannot drive him herself.

Eldon started in East Cork Community Special School in November, after several weeks of uncertainty as the school term began. There was no start date available for her son initially, due to extension works at the school.

At the end of last week, Ms Thompson received an email from the school bus service. It said that, due to operational difficulties, the route would not operate from February 23 “until further notice”.

A Bus Éireann spokesperson told The Echo this week: “The school route in question is not in operation from February 23 due to the vehicle undergoing maintenance.

“To minimise disruption, it is hoped the service will be operational from Wednesday 25th. Bus Éireann wishes to apologise to any affected parents and children.” At the time, Ms Thompson had not yet been contacted by the bus company, but was told yesterday that the bus will be in operation again from today.

“As a single parent, I have to figure out how to transport Eldon to Carrigtwohill from Mayfield, which comes with expenses and pressure. It doesn’t help that I don’t drive, I can’t due to my seizures.

“I’ll be getting texts in the morning saying there’s no bus today, or at 12 o clock the night before. By then I can’t go ringing people asking can they drop him. His escort will text saying they’re stuck and won’t make it or the bus has broken down.

“I have another child in creche, so collecting both of them puts me under huge time pressure.” Getting a placement so far from home has contributed to this, she said: “St Killian’s special school is just up the hill and Cara Junior School is a three-minute walk from where I live.

“Eldon loves East Cork Special School, they’re brilliant with him, he loves his teachers and is making loads of friends. But if I could get him transferred he could walk with me to school.” She added that due to his late start date, he hadn’t done a full school term yet, but that transportation issues were causing him to miss school.

“If he was a normal child in a mainstream school missing days, I’d be reported. Just because he has additional needs, it doesn’t mean he should be treated differently. My two-year-old daughter isn’t autistic, and she got a primary school placement just from sending in an application, but with Eldon I’m constantly having to fight.”