Sinn Féin TD Joanna Byrne has called for urgent reform of the school transport system, saying families in Drogheda and across the region should not be left waiting each August to find out whether their children have a place on a bus.
She said the scheme needs more capacity, better planning, and greater certainty for parents before the new school year begins.
Teachta Byrne said;
“ School Transport should not be a lottery. Families in Drogheda and beyond deserve a school transport system that is properly planned, properly resourced. and gives parents certainty before the school year begins.
This government has now presided over two school summer holidays, where chaos ensues in August when families are left worrying if their child will have a seat on the bus, whether routes will have enough capacity, or whether they will have to
completely rearrange work and family life.
This isn’t new, and it isn’t necessary. Sinn Féin have brought forward plans and proposals to reform the scheme and to end this annual chaos, which the government has chosen to ignore. They are now literally ignoring their own recommendations from the School Transport Review.
To add insult to injury this year the government has chosen to hike school transport fees for those lucky enough to get a place.
Sinn Féin have set out practical proposals to end the cycle of annual disruption. My colleague, Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Darren O’Rourke TD, has been leading the call for reform in the Dáil. He has consistently called for an end to the school bus lottery, investment in extra capacity, proper provision for children with additional needs, and a system that is planned around the needs of families.
It simply isn’t good enough to ignore solutions while families pay the price. The government cannot keep pretending this is unexpected when it has become a yearly crisis. I will be working closely with my Sinn Féin colleagues to push the government
into ending this chaos before schools return.”
