School Transport service for Windtown in Navan allocated €50,000 from the Dormant Accounts Fund

Windtown, School Transport service in Navan has been allocated €50,000 from the Dormant Accounts Fund, a scheme set up to address disadvantage across the country.

The funding is part of a €44.8 million investment into projects nationwide. Money in the Dormant Accounts Fund can be used to fund measures that address economic, social, or educational disadvantage and to support people with a disability.

The Windtown School Bus Service which is implemented by Flexibus has seen a huge increase in school participation and completion since it was introduced in 2017.

Windtown is an area of high disadvantage with a DEIS feeder school 4.7km away. The Department of Transport identifies that the distance must be 4.8km or more to avail of the school transport scheme.

Consistently, Windtown students had been experiencing difficulty with retention, attendance and punctuality. Navan School Completion Programme was aware of the causal factors for the students, which related to lack of transport, walking a distance of 4.7km, 55min, lack of adequate nutrition and motivation to get themselves out to school.

The service has and continues to break the cycle of educational disadvantage and provides young people with advantage in their lives.

Sinn Fein Cllr Eddie Fennessy who previously made a contribution to keep the service in operation through his discretionary fund has welcomed the news.

"In my six years as a councillor I campaigned for many issues of social and community concern," he said.

"The campaign I'm most proud of, is the retention and continued delivery of the Windtown School Bus Service, "added Fennessy.

"The service has been in operation for seven years and has been hugely successful in keeping children in school to leaving cert level and beyond. It was set up and is managed by a committee comprising members of Meath County Council, the Navan School Completion Service, the Meath Children & Youth Protection Service, TFI Local Link, Beaufort College and Scoil Naomh Eoin.

"The service transports disadvantaged children to Beaufort College each morning and provides them with a breakfast. In the afternoon, students attend a homework club before receiving a hot meal and a bus home.

"This week's funding announcement retains the service for another year. I thank Meath County Council in particular for their hard work. And I wish the children well for the coming academic year."

Launching The 2025 Action Plan yesterday (Monday) Joe O’Brien TD, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development said:

“I am very pleased to officially launch the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2025 which provides funding of €44.8 million to help address disadvantage right across Ireland.

“The 51 measures approved for funding in 2025 will be implemented across Government and will help to address a diverse range of issues such as homelessness, traveller equality, youth disadvantage, migrant integration and sports measures for disadvantaged communities.”

“Every year Dormant Accounts funding makes a real difference to individuals and communities right across the country. The 2025 Action Plan being published today will help ensure that we can continue to support the most vulnerable in society.”