Staff and students of an Ennis secondary school are expressing disappointment as plans for a bus shelter appear to have hit a dead end.
After engagements with Clare County Council, the National Transport Authority and the Department of Education, there remains no clear funding stream for the much requested piece of infrastructure.
Roughly two years ago, the Student Council of St Flannan’s College made it known to school management that a bus shelter had been identified as a priority project by the student body which currently numbers 1,280.
Those who avail of a school bus service at St Flannan’s currently have to wait on the footpath beside the school gates on Cusack Road which although sheltered by trees has no protection from the elements.
Leaving Cert student Brendan O’Halloran, who sits on the Student Council, says it deters people from wanting to get the bus.
After becoming aware of the problem, the school’s principal, Father Ignatius McCormack, wrote to the National Transport Authority to request the installation of a bus shelter.
Having been told the matter wasn’t within the authority’s remit, he then contacted the Department of Education but this effort also proved fruitless as he was informed there’s no designated funding stream for such a project.
Clare County Council was the next port of call in the school’s bid to secure funding and a meeting was held between a school official, an Ennis Municipal District engineer and a Department of Education representative to this end in November 2024.
This meeting heard however that the local authority has no responsibility for the provision of a bus shelter at the location as the bus stop isn’t publicly used.
Father McCormack is remaining hopeful Clare County Council will fund the project.
Exploring another avenue, the Student Council recently contacted Clarecastle Fine Gael Councillor Paul Murphy who subsequently raised the matter at a recent meeting of Ennis Municipal District.
A response from a Senior Engineer reiterated the view that such a development is the responsibility of either the school itself or the Department of Education.
Councillor Murphy believes engaging with the Department to be the most viable way of progressing the project.
A recent survey conducted by the Student Council has found that over 300 students at St Flannan’s get the bus which accounts for over a quarter of its enrolment.
Student Council member Aoibheann O’Dwyer insists if schools want to make travelling bus more appealing, the right infrastructure must be in place.
You can listen to the full interview here:
