‘Not fit for purpose’: Leitrim councillors call for school bus reform

Cllr Enda McGloin (FG) called on the council to write to the Minister for Education to seek a new school transport system.

“The old Bus Eireann system is not for purpose, as it does not provide the flexibility provided for by parents,” Cllr McGloin’s motion stated.

“A well funded modern service provided by a company similar to TFI Local Link needs to be established to cater for the needs of working parents in Ireland,” the motion added.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr McGloin said: “I don’t know if Bus Eireann are capable of running the school bus service. Nothing ever changes.”

He also told the meeting: “parents who head early to work are trying to ensure that their children get safely to school.”

“I also know that this is a big issue around the country,” he added.

Speaking to the Observer, Cllr McGloin said he attended an online meeting with Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton TD, along with around 30 councillors from around the country.

He said the group left the Minister in no doubt about the concerns nationwide about the school transport system.

“I said to the Minister that school transport should get priority over other issues such as school meals,” he explained.

“Bus routes need to be designed around schools. A root and branch reform of the system is needed,” he added.

The Drumshanbo-based councillor outlined two main concerns expressed about the school transport system.

“There are concerns in relation to ticketing and route planning. There are cases where students are getting tickets for buses but not using them.

“In relation to route planning, there needs to be more flexibility. There also needs to be expansion of routes.

“It is a rules based system at present, but there needs to be more imagination used,” Cllr McGloin stated.

“The meeting we had put the press on the minister,” he added.

Cllr Brendan Barry (SF) also tabled a similar motion, calling for “the implementation of the School Transport 2030 review recommendations within the county.”

His motion specifically demanded that the organisations involved “integrate Local Link networks, reduce the eligibility distances and combat rural isolation and car dependency.”

Speaking at the meeting, he said: “I don’t support privatisation and shifting the school bus service to local link would be wrong.”

The school bus system also came in for criticism from Cllr Maeve Reynolds (FG).

“This gets worse every year. I know of people who have to drive to the side of the N4 to let their children out to meet a bus,” she stated.

“The school bus won’t travel the extra few kilometres to pick up passengers. It is a most frustrating system,” she added.

Cllr Cormac Flynn (SF) also criticised Bus Éireann.

“Children are being left at the sides of roads where there are no verges to meet the buses. There are some ridiculous situations,” he stated.

Cllr Eddie Mitchell (Ind) told the meeting: “this is a rules based system without discretion.”

It was decided that the council would write a letter to Bus Éireann on the issue.

The Observer has contacted Bus Éireann for a response.