23/08/2016

School Transport Needs To Be Addressed - Nolan

The Minister of State with Responsibility for School Transport, John Halligan, has been called to "urgently" address cases where students previously in receipt of school transport are now being denied a place.

Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Education and Skills, Teachta Carol Nolan, said in some cases, students who have attended a particular school for the last number of years are being advised to attend a different school.

She said: "I am aware of a number of cases in Donegal, Cork, Kilkenny, and my own constituency of Offaly, where students who were previously in receipt of school transport have been told that they can not avail of it this year.

"It is clear that, while the nearest school rule introduced by Fianna Fail and implemented by Fine Gael and Labour may, on the face of it, appear to be an efficient arrangement, it is in fact a restrictive measure that simply does not work in practice.

"The fact that parents have only been informed that their child will not have a place on the school bus in late August when preparations to send the child back to school are well underway is a complete farce.

"The Minister of State made a commitment in the Dáil that no student would lose a seat on the school bus this September and it appears that this is not the case."

(CD)

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