Scores left without bus spaces after fee suspension demand

Students in towns closer to secondary schools given priority for seat placement.

Scores of pupils across the region on concessionary bus passes have this morning learned there will be no room for them on local transport following the Government’s decision to suspend fees for the 2022/2023.

The revelation emerged despite, in some cases, those same students already using the local transport service to attend schools this week.

The issue, according to Bus Éireann, has arisen after the Government’s suspended fees for the 2022/2023 yet failed to sync that by amending other school transport scheme criteria.

As a result, students in towns closer to a secondary school, but who in the past may have travelled using alternative means, have now been given priority for seat placement.

The decision is regardless of whether others students living further away had been journeying by the same bus service in years previous.

Under the terms of the Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/ Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Pupils who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis in accordance with the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme.

“The number of applications received exceeded the number of seats available. This vehicle is now operating at capacity,” Bus Éireann informed shocked parents of on concessionary bus pass pupils by email only this morning.

“The Government’s announcement to suspend fees for the 2022/2023 school year did not change any other criteria under the school transport scheme.”

School Transport is managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. Concessionary transport is subject to conditions including that there is a suitable existing service, as determined by Bus Éireann, operating into the students nearest education centre, and that there is spare capacity on the service also.

Parents who paid for Concessionary transport tickets prior to the Government announcement have since received a refund.

As stated, school bus routes will not be “extended or altered”, additional vehicles “will not be introduced”, nor will larger vehicles or “extra trips” using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis. “No additional State cost will be incurred.”

The email to parents further explained that the availability of concessionary transport “may vary from year to year”.

It is, they say, “not available” on public scheduled services and “cannot be guaranteed” for the duration of a child’s post primary school education cycle. “Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann will determine the allocation of the tickets.”