Annascaul parents take up bus offer

AGREEMENT BRINGS AN END TO SCHOOL BUS DISPUTE FOR THIS YEAR

PARENTS of 17 secondary school children in Annascaul have accepted Bus Éireann’s offer of a €15 weekly ticket for the rest of the academic year.

Kerry TD Brendan Griffin, a member of the cross-party School Transport Review Group, said parents are pleased with the offer, but attention has now turned to 2017/18.

The development follows months of wrangling. On August 16, days before pupils returned to school, 18 students were chosen by lottery and assigned seats in a Bus Éireann-managed minibus to Tralee at a cost of €350 for the school year.

Another 17 students travelling to Tralee were left without concessionary bus tickets. They could travel to school by public bus, but at a far higher cost.

Bus Éireann defended its decision at the time, saying “Annascaul students reside closer to Castlegregory’s post-primary school. The availability of concessionary transport may vary from year to year. It’s not available on public scheduled services and can’t be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s post primary school education cycle.”

Parents later rejected an improved offer of €20 weekly tickets for the public bus on the grounds that it was still far more expensive than a concessionary ticket. That price was later installed regardless.

Speaking to The Kerryman, Deputy Griffin said “Annascaul’s situation is unique. It’s in Dingle’s catchment area, but it’s not in the Gaeltacht, making Tralee schools more attractive to Annascaul students than the all-Irish Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne. There is also little tradition of Annascaul students attending Castlegregory’s Méan Scoil and Leith Triúgh.”

Deputy Griffin added that Annascaul school transport has long caused headaches for parents, and said a permanent resolution needs to be reached.

“These problems aren’t new. A €15 weekly ticket is acceptable for this year, but it’s another temporary measure. We need to know what’s happening for 2017/18 and beyond.”