Calls are growing among members of the public and politicians alike for urgent action to address school bus issues in Clare.
It comes as a number of services in this county have been cancelled due to driver shortages, while students have now been left waiting at the roadside due to capacity problems.
A total of six school bus routes in this county have been cancelled directly due to acute driver shortages facing Bus Eireann.
The unlucky students, based in Cratloe, Ruan, Sixmilebridge and Newmarket On-Fergus are affected despite already having purchased their bus tickets.
With parents now facing the prospect of forking out for taxis or adding to their weekly petrol or diesel bills by taking on the journey themselves, much criticism has been levelled at Bus Eireann’s mandatory retirement age policy .
Once a driver reaches the age of 70 they are no longer eligible to drive for Bus Eireann, with this rule also applying to contractors.
Bus Eireann have stated that they have no intention of revisiting the policy, given the scale of the operation of school transport to ensure the safe transport of over 150,000 children on a daily basis.
However while one Clare politician has suggested defence forces personnel with the required D licence could be drafted in to bridge the shortfall, the focus needs to remain on long term solutions.
Tulla Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley says any professional of sound mind and body should be allowed to keep up their service.
A Morning Focus listener meanwhile, believes the process of the getting the bus licence needs to be streamlined.
Patrick from Clarecastle who obtained his D1 qualification after a lengthy eight month process, believes there is too much red tape.
Meanwhile It’s claimed children are being left on the side of the road in Corofin as school busses with empty seats pass them by.
Parents in the North Clare community have been the latest to raise concerns over drive shortages and the oversubscription of concessionary tickets affecting students in Ennis, Ennistymon and Lisdoonvarna.
Bus Eireann has set up an exceptional interim services grant to compensate families footing the bill for alternative transport.
However Clare Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway says the Minister for Transport and Minister for Education need to intervene.
You can listen to the full interview this morning.
