‘Unreliable with insufficient capacity’- councillors dissatisfaction with school transport bus service in Sligo

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

Sligo County Council has expressed dissatisfaction with the current school bus service in the county following a motion tabled at the local authority's November monthly meeting by Cllr Barry Gallagher.

In his motion Cllr Gallagher highlighted issues such as "unreliability, insufficient capacity and lack of timely communication in the operation of the service.”

Cllr Gallagher called on The Department of Education and Bus Eireann to "Urgently review the provision of school transport services in Co Sligo” and called for “Additional routes and capacity to be provided where demand exceeds supply.”

Cllr Gallagher’s motion also called for “A clear and transparent communication system to be established for parents and schools regarding eligibility, routes and delays.”

Addressing the Council Chamber, Cllr Gallagher said he was made aware of a situation where a schoolgirl was being transported from her school to her home. The girl’s family lived closer to a school other than the one she was attending and she was told by Bus Eireann ‘you can go to another school.’

"More needs to be done. This is an issue that will be repeating every 12 months.”

The motion was supported by Cllr Paul Taylor who said, “Where it has improved slightly, it is not enough. It is not fair on kids to be caught in that kind of debacle.

Cllr Michael Clarke also supported the motion saying, “Especially in rural areas, we have to move to a situation where every child can get public transport. The only system that will work right is if every child is collected. The regulations are ridiculous; every student should be collected and brought to school. The current scheme can’t continue.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.