140 pupils lost seats on Sligo school buses due to rules

THE ‘ nearest school’ rule of the School Transport Scheme has put 140 Sligo schoolchildren off their school bus.

Councillor Thomas Healy told the meeting that he wanted the Council to write to the Minister of State for Education and Skills John Halligan about the effect of the rule on children in Sligo.

Cllr Healy said the latest review of the School Transport Scheme had not addressed the “flawed system which is causing huge stress and disruption for students and parents.”

“140 Sligo primary and post- primary school children have lost out on a bus seat,” he said.

“I raised this in 2016. What we’ll see is more children losing their seats. That will increase this year.

“This has a dramatic affect on all areas of Sligo. The fact is that all councillors are inundated with calls from parents who’s children are refused a seat on school buses for various reasons. The Minister has clearly not kept his commitment that no child would lose their school bus seat.

“Additional funding of ¤ 7million needs to be allocated to increase bus capacity adequately and provide transport for all children to the school that they are entitled to attend.

“Between 2008 and 2014 however, the budget for transport was reduced by ¤ 13million.

“The recent review did not take account of traditional catchment areas, health and safety concerns and the needs of the community.

“We urgently need a truly flexible system that delivers for every student and their community and does not leave families at the whim of a lottery type of process,” he said.

Cllr Chris MacManus said he heard of a child losing a seat after they moved out to Dromore West. “A bit of common sense is needed here,” he said.

The motion was carried.