Review of school transport scheme in Wicklow called for despite Bus Éireann offering grant

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Bus Éireann has said it is providing grants to some families affected by school transport disruption, following concerns raised by a Wicklow TD in the Dáil.

Speaking in the Dáil recently, Jennifer Whitmore of the Social Democrats highlighted the persistent chaos that families in Wicklow face at the start of every school year, including late arrivals, overcrowded vehicles, last-minute cancellations, and a complete lack of clear communication from those running the scheme.

“Parents are left scrambling to get their children to school, often with no notice or explanation. In some cases, children are left behind because the bus is already full by the time it reaches them. In others, families are still waiting for basic information or physical tickets weeks into the school term,” Deputy Whitmore said.

She criticised the lack of accountability and transparency in how issues are addressed, noting that a review of the scheme in 2023 failed to resolve these problems.

“This is not about isolated incidents or teething problems. These are systemic failures that reoccur every single year in Wicklow and beyond. The current approach is simply not working, and families are paying the price.”

Deputy Whitmore has called on the Education Minister to launch a full assessment of the school bus scheme in Wicklow, with a focus on its efficiency, reliability, and how recurring issues like no-shows and cancellations are being managed.

Bus Éireann has reported difficulties in specific locations with a small number of contracted services, where it has not yet been possible to provide vehicles and/or drivers.

These difficulties have arisen in some cases due to lack of driver or contractor availability, or where either zero bids were received for a service, despite repeated efforts to procure one.

In response to queries from Deputy Whitmore, the Bus Éireann School Transport team have indicated they are working to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible.

Bus Éireann has contacted the affected families directly and will stay in regular contact with them, they said.

An ‘Exceptional No Service Interim Grant’ payable by the Department, which will be based on the number of days children attend school, will be made available to the families.

The grant is only available to the small number of families who have already received a school transport ticket from Bus Éireann and where difficulties have meant that transport is not in place for the start of the school year. Bus Éireann have contacted these families directly.

Those who have been issued a ticket and do not have a service in place will be contacted shortly by the School Transport Section in the Department.

Work is continuing to resolve this matter and Bus Éireann have pledged to provide transport to these students as quickly as is possible.