Some children are being left stranded as there are not enough seats on Letterkenny school buses.
That’s according to Cathaoirleach of Donegal Aontú, Rebecca McDaid, who says she knowns of several families whose children are being left high and dry and simply can’t get a seat on the bus.
She says
“This is very serious. Apart from the inconvenience to say the least ,there are safeguarding issues here, children simply cannot be left on the side of the road .
The ongoing difficulties with school bus places in Letterkenny need to be addressed for once and for all.
I have organised a public meeting this Sunday ( 13th September) in a bid to try to get to grips with this.
“Bus Eireann, say they have no more availability , but I was talking to two bus drivers today and they said that not every bus is at full capacity and there are seats on the bus.
However, if this is the case it is not being communicated to parents or indeed teachers and it is a mess.
Buses leaving kids stranded while there are available seats is a joke.
Where is the organisation around this
Where is the planning
I understand that Bus Eireann is actually refusing to provide another bus for students so far.
As it stands there are many families without support now from Bus Eireann and one particular private operator is able to provide a private bus for €35 per week per student.
However, not all families can afford this
Bus Eireann is some €220 per year for three children for example so it is cost effective and that has never been as important for families who are trying to make ends meet in a very serious cost of living crisis.
I am organising a public meeting on this issue as it is one that is causing untold stress and strain on families and God knows they have enough on their plates as it is.
Local people need answers and clarity around this issue and they need it now”.
