Meeting with Bus Eireann over school bus chaos

A TOP Bus Eireann official has agreed to meet West Cork public representatives to discuss the school bus controversy.

In September, standing orders at a meeting of the West Cork Municipal District were suspended to give councillors an opportunity to vent about the way the school bus service is being run.

At that meeting, a letter was sent to Bus Eireann and another was sent to the Minister for Transport. At the November meeting, the Bus Eireann official confirmed that he would be willing to meet the councillors to discuss the situation, but there was only a two-line response from the minister acknowledging receipt of their correspondence.

Cllr Declan Hurley (Ind) said the logistics of the school bus service needed to be sorted out ‘once and for all’ because some children have been allocated seats on the bus while their siblings are driven to school by their parents in the family car.

Cllr Hurley suggested that more buses – or, at the very least, bigger buses – should be provided.

Councillors representing different parts of West Cork complained that the problem is widespread and has been an unnecessary source of anger and frustration for time-pressed parents. The Bus Eireann official informed the councillors that the company has ‘no discretion’ in relation to the scheme, but was nevertheless willing to meet them to discuss the problem.

Cllr Paul Hayes (SF) suggested it would be ‘worthwhile’ to go and meet the Bus Eireann boss.

However, Cllr Hurley was adamant that a deputation should also be arranged to go and meet the transport minister.