Some North Clare parents are expressing concerns about getting their children to school, after Bus Eireann confirmed pupils from this county have been refused a school bus place for this term.
There are at least eight students affected by the decision, with the route concerned going from Corofin to Ennistymon.
Schools are set to reopen again in a matter of weeks, with concern already being expressed about the lack of physical distancing measures for school buses.
Bus Eireann have offered refunds to the parents involved, saying concessionary transport cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s schooling.
Clare’s Sinn Fein TD Violet-Anne Wynne says the bus is the only option for some parents to send their children to school.
Statement from Bus Éireann
Bus Éireann operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of the Department of Education, transporting 120,000 children on 7,000 dedicated school routes every year.
To be eligible, primary school children must live more than 3.2km from their nearest national school, and post-primary school children must live more than 4.8km from their nearest education centre.
School children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability are eligible for transport having regard to available resources.
Availability for children who do not meet these criteria may vary from year to year, and concessionary transport cannot be guaranteed for the duration of the school cycle.
Unfortunately, demand often exceeds supply in various areas of the country.
Families who do not secure transport have the opportunity to appeal the decision through the Department of Education.
This appeals process is available year-round and further information is available at the Bus Éireann and Department of Education websites.
