Transport chaos as families scramble for school bus seats

There was school transport chaos across the county as children returned to schools over the past two weeks, with many students who had travelled on buses in previous years denied a seat and in at least one case, Bus Éireann had to write to families entitled to bus places to explain they were unable to provide transport.

The problems seem to have occurred across the county in Drumconrath, Meath Hill, Moynalty, Rathcore, Kilmessan, Bohermeen, Kilcloon, Moynalvey, Skryne, Rathfeigh, Tara and Rathkenny, although some had been resolved at the time of writing.

Worried families, with both parents working, have had to take time of work to bring children to school and point that this will not be sustainable for any period of time.

While most of the problems involved concessionary tickets - where Bus Éireann allows allocated tickets for additional places on a bus to students not strictly within the criteria for school transport - it was a different situation in Drumconrath. Families whose children were fully entitled to school transport were told there was none available for the start of the school year and the Department of Education sanctioned an “Exceptional No Service Interim Grant” which was to be based on the number of days they couldn't travel by bus.

“It has been resolved now. We have a bus, but the past week has been a nightmare,” says Maria Dardis whose son was returning to O'Carolan College, Nobber.

“We were just told they couldn't get the bus. We hadn't imagined this happening because we fully meet the criteria for school transport and we were issued with the ticket in July.

“My husband and I both work full time, so it was very stressful.”

She explained that some children had been due back in school on Friday 23rd August and at 4.45pm the evening before they were told there was no bus.

“We had friends who helped us out but there were many families in this situation. Our next door neighbour has three children - imagine trying to get a lift for three.”

David Dunne's from Moynalvey has been told there is no room on the bus for his children who attend Scoil Dara in Kilcock.

“Our children have always had tickets for the school bus. They have been travelling on the school bus for the past ten years.

“We have been told there is no room but one morning there were just 19 on a 33 seater bus.

“We have had to take time off work to bring them to school. The road is very dangerous so cycling isn't an option.”

Lisa Rooney Smith from Kilmessan paid for her child's bus ticket, only to discover it had been refunded to her. After talking to someone in Bus Éireann she was advised applied again, so she did, paid for a ticket again, but still hasn't received it.

“I have two older children who always got the bus, but they have done their Leaving Certs. We have always had places on the bus.

“They have always been concessionary tickets, because they went to school in Trim and the Department says we are closer to Dunshaughlin, which I find hard to believe. People from Kilmessan have always gone to school in Trim.

“I am not the only one with this problem There are other children from this area who haven't got tickets this year.

“The most frustrating thing is that it is so difficult to get someone to talk to in Bus Éireann. I have been trying for days but nobody has got back to me.”

Residents of the Rathcore area have said they will continue to campaign to have Rathcore designated an official pick up point for secondary school students going to Trim.

Eileen Connolly said that while they have now been sorted, they have friends who have been told there are no seats on the bus this year. “There are a number of families who still have no tickets. This could be any of us. We could be in the same situation next year, so we are campaigning to have Rathcore become an official pick up point,” she said.

A spokesperson for Bus Éireann said that under the current terms of the scheme, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post-primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. All eligible pupils who apply and pay on time will be accommodated on services.

“Ticket allocations for the upcoming school year have been issued in line with the guidelines of the scheme.”Bus Éireann operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department of Education. Children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department of Education/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

“All eligible pupils who apply and pay on time are accommodated on transport services. Pupils who are not eligible for school transport under the scheme may be offered transport on a concessionary basis, where capacity exists once all eligible pupils have been accommodated.

“The availability of concessionary transport may vary from year to year. Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann will determine the allocation of the tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.”