No buses on six Kildare bus routes

A Kildare South TD has last week demanded Bus Éireann provide clarity to the many worried parents on six routes across Kildare waiting on a school bus route to open for their child.

“Over the past number of weeks my office has been inundated with queries from worried parents who are still waiting for their child’s school bus route to be set up, despite tickets already being issued in many cases,” said Deputy Mark Wall.

“What is even worse is the haphazard way Bus Éireann has handled the situation.

“They sent out an email a few days before the school term was due to begin informing parents that a school bus operator had yet to be found for their child’s route.

“Additional information over the last few days provided by my office by Bus Éireann has been inadequate and lacks any clarity on whether these routes will be operational.

“I am calling on Bus Éireann to urgently provide clarity to parents on a number of school bus routes including St Paul’s Secondary School in Monasterevin, Gael Cholaiste Chill Dara, Coláiste Lorcáin/Scoil Diarmada in Castledermot, Dunlavin/Ballitore, Caragh to Naas Community College, and Kilmeague.

“I also believe that Bus Éireann needs to come before the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth to discuss the current state of the school transport system in Ireland.

“There is also an ongoing crisis for Kildare Town and Newbridge students going to the Curragh primary and secondary schools.

“These students are unable to attend their nearest school due to them being full, and so have no other choice but to attend a school outside of their local area.

“Despite this, Bus Éireann refuses to accommodate these students with a school bus.

“The Department of Education and Minister Michael Moynihan, who has responsibility for school transport, needs to step in here and given the exceptional circumstances these families find themselves in and provide a school bus service for Kildare Town and Newbridge students.”