03/09/2015

Children Eligible For School Transport Denied Access - FF

The Minister for Education is being urged to investigate why children who are eligible for school transport are being denied the service.

Bus Éireann is failing to accommodate their children, despite them being fully eligible for the school transport scheme.

Fianna Fáil TD for Laois, Sean Fleming, made the comments after being contacted by a number of concerned parents.

He said: "In recent days I have been contacted by a number of parents who are having serious difficulties in securing school transport for their children. These parents have registered their children for the school transport scheme and have been told that they are within the catchment area and eligible for the service. However they have now been told, at the last minute, that there is no space for their children on the school buses," said Deputy Fleming.

"This is a serious issue that needs immediate investigation by Minister O'Sullivan. It is unacceptable that parents are being told so late in the day that their children will not be accommodated on school buses, despite being fully eligible for the transport scheme. Parents are finding it impossible to put in place alternative arrangements at such short notice."

(CD/JP)

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