Debate reignites over school bus system in Leitrim as new school year begins

Schools have reopened across the county for the new school year, reigniting ongoing debates and frustrations about the complexities of the school bus system. 

Cllr Enda McGloin proposed a motion asking the Council to urge the Minister for Education to publish the planned review of the School Transport Scheme.

Cllr McGloin also suggested that a more thorough review be conducted to reduce travel distances for pupils and create more convenient pick-up points.

“As an overview in terms of the school bus system, in 2022 and 2023 it cost €340 million. It carries 149,000 children across the country and 80,000 children with special needs.

“The current rules are not less than 3.2 kilometres for primary schools, not less than 4.8 kilometres for secondary schools,” Cllr McGloin explained.

Cllr McGloin expressed frustration about the rigidity in addressing transport issues related to school pick-ups. Currently, some parents must drive disruptive distances to drop off their child at the pick-up point, which is inconvenient especially for families with young children.

“There is a proposal to reduce the 3.2 kilometres and 4.8 kilometres. There’s mothers who have maybe small children who they’d have to take out of the house, put into the car, bring the child that’s going to school down a kilometre or two and back up again. 

“When you make a point to bus inspectors they don’t seem to have the authority to change it.

“We know there’s difficulties in the supply of school buses. There’s a rule where drivers over seventy cannot drive a school bus but yet if the children were going to play football that evening, the same driver that couldn’t bring them to school could bring them to the football.

“Anyone that has a licence and medical permission to drive should be able to do so. That has to change to provide more drivers and more buses,” he commented.

“I’m concerned about here in Leitrim where families are very frustrated. Working parents are very frustrated.

“The Government has prepared to spend €94.5 million for the school meals programme in 2023 and that’s to increase by €14.5 next year. They’ll provide €120 million for school books. My argument is let's deal with the situation we have here.

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“It’s very frustrating and I’m anxious to not only send this up to the Minister for Education but to other local authorities, because I'm sure all local authorities have councillors and TDs who feel the same,” he added.

Cllr McGloin’s motion was seconded by Cllr Reynolds and many members voiced their own experiences and concerns with the school transport system.

“Our school bus system is in urgent need of funding overall, the time frame to determine whether the child will receive a ticket isn’t fit for purpose,” Cllr Reynolds said.

“Families are left in limbo and they don’t know if their child will get a place or not. How can you make childcare arrangements if you only get a week's notice? The system needs to be reformed to provide timely and equitable decisions for all families,” she added.

“We seem to be at this point every year,” Cllr Warnock commented. “The schools have opened and it’s highly unlikely there’ll be any change before next year.”

Cathaoirleach Paddy O’Rourke commented on the inconsistencies in how climate change considerations are applied.

He argued that when constructing a building, there are requirements to address climate change impacts. 

However, the Department is contradicting these efforts by favouring the use of multiple single-occupancy vehicles to transport children rather than upgrading to bigger buses.

“In many cases it might only require moving up from a 22 seater to a 28 seater or a 28 seater to a 36 seater. 

Instead of doing that they’re flying in the face of their own climate targets by putting multiple singular vehicles on the road doing multiple trips each day,” he commented.

“If it’s coming up every year, I don’t know what we’re doing wrong. 

“The Government is prepared to spend X amount on school meals and books but they mustn't be listening to what the public are saying. 

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“Solve this problem first, that’s what I find frustrating,” Cllr McGloin concluded.