THE ‘BROKEN’ SCHOOL BUS SEAT SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED
THE Labour TD for Cork East, Deputy Seán Sherlock, has once again called on the Government to take immediate action to address what he described as “the broken” school transport system.
Only last month the Mallow TD, who is the party;’ spokesman on children, slammed what he said was the government’s “do nothing” attitude in relation to the issue, saying parents were facing “another summer of uncertainty” over concessionary tickets for the approaching school term.
The issue of bus places has become fraught in recent years after a 2011 change in how they are allocated. The previous arrangement had revolved around school catchment areas, whereas under the current system seats are allocated based on proximity of a school to a pupil’s home.
In total, more than 114,000 children avail of school transport in rural areas, with some 24,000 travelling on a concessionary basis at an overall cost of €182m last year.
Concessionary passengers are those who are accommodated on buses if there are spare seats once all ‘eligible’ students get their place. They are then allocated tickets at random and pay for their passage.
“The problem here is that parents have already paid. The department (of Education and Skills) know the numbers that need transport, yet they persevere with rigid contracts on bus sizes, rather than allowing a more flexible system to emerge,” said Deputy Sherlock.
His frustration was further exacerbated over recent days after it emerged that many parents had been receiving refusal emails on concessionary tickets.
“Every year this issue arises and every year the Government wrings its hands, expresses sympathy and waits for the parents to become so exasperated that they give up the fight,” said Deputy Sherlock.
He pointed out that a report into the school bus system “unsurprisingly” recommended that no changes should take place to the system currently in use.
“The end result is that families are again left stranded just before the school year resumes and in some cases, even when the school year begins. Every year parents have paid for their tickets and every year, having paid for their tickets, their children are being kicked off the bus and have to travel by car to school,” said Deputy Sherlock.
“Census data shows us that nationally, more than 60% of people travel to school of work by car. We must create a supply of bus seats with parents willing to pay for tickets, as they already are, to take cars off the roads and encourage public transport use.”