Labour rep calls for universal access to bus seats for children

CHILDREN should be entitled to a seat on the school bus irrespective of where they live, a local representative of the Labour party said. Nessa Cosgrove said that universal access for school transport should be introduced as applications open for school transport for the next academic year.

She said: “Every year this issue arises and every year the Government fails miserably to address it.

“The school transport system in Sligo is letting students down and the system seems designed to stop people accessing a bus rather than facilitating as many people as possible to access a bus service.

“We want school transport for all. We want to put an end to this idea that there’s a lottery for tickets and for places on school buses.

“If society was working properly, there would be access to school transport for everybody who needs it.

“The qualifying criteria are too strident, too stringent in that the distance away from the school needs to be expanded to encompass more children.

“That’s what we’re calling for. A universal school transport service would be the best way to get people out of cars in school buses, get kids to school, and I think that’s what people want.

She continued: “I have been liaising with my Labour colleague Seán Sherlock on the review process that was the subject of public consultation.

“Over 10,000 people have fed into this survey and their views must be taken on board.”

The Labour party activist added: “The system needs to be radically changed and we believe it should be changed with capacity ramped up to allow for universal access.”