‘This is a nightmare for families to navigate’ — Wexford students left without bus spaces just days ahead of term

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

Students in north Wexford are facing a last-minute rush to source school transport after being informed they will not receive a bus ticket for the upcoming academic year.

The students and their parents have received correspondence from Bus Éireann confirming there are no places available. Many of the families in question had held bus tickets in previous years and have been “shocked” to learn there is no bus available for their children this term.

The shortage of bus services in the county has become a recurring theme in the late summer months in Co Wexford with students in certain areas repeatedly falling foul of the strict criteria applied under the School Transport Scheme.

As part of that scheme, which is operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education, transport is provided for primary students who live 3.2km or more from their local school, and for post-primary students who live 4.8km or more from their school.

The Department of Education determines what the nearest suitable school is, considering the school’s ethos and language. Bus Éireann decides if your child qualifies by checking the distance from the nearest school to your child’s home.

However, having spoken with families who have been informed their children will not receive a bus space for the new term, Gorey councillor Nicky Boland said the lack of transport options is “causing untold worry and exasperation” for impacted students.

“I am hearing from parents on a daily basis who have received communications from Bus Éireann informing them that their child or children have no bus ticket for the new school year,” said the Wexford Independent Alliance councillor. “Many of these families have held bus tickets in previous years and are shocked to be notified that there is no bus available for them this year.

“These are hard-working families who depend on school transport. This is a nightmare for families to navigate.”

Calling on the Department of Education to “significantly expand” the School Transport Scheme to ensure all eligible children have access to bus services, Cllr Boland said the shortage of spaces is hitting rural communities, where alternative transport options are limited, the hardest.

“Many parents are being forced to rearrange work commitments, absorb additional travel costs and spend hours each week transporting their children to and from school,” he said.

“No child should be denied a school transport place because of insufficient capacity, and no family should have to choose between work and getting their child to school.”

“This is a huge problem that is being presented to families with very short notice. Schools are back in a matter of weeks, with many parents only receiving these emails over the past week. It is causing untold worry and exasperation for families who are already trying to prepare for the new school year.”

Urging all those affected to contact Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton to express their concerns, Cllr Boland said school transport was a basic human right for students.

“Our children deserve reliable access to school, and families deserve a school transport system they can depend on.”