Nine school pupils in Inishowen have no place on the local school bus this year due to a ‘crude lottery system’, according to Donegal Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn.
Senator Mac Lochlainn says this incident is proof that the school transport problems across Donegal are getting worse in the new school year.
Parents of children attending Gleneely NS in North Inishowen challenged the school bus placement system last year after a number of children were denied places.
In the 2018/19 school year, 42 pupils applied for the 33 available seats to Dristernan NS. Sixteen pupils were eligible, which left 26 pupils in a computerised random selection system. Nine students lost out on seats under this system.
Senator Mac Lochlainn said it is clear no lessons were learned by the Government and the Department of Education last year and it is unacceptable that all school children are not accommodated on the bus.
Government rules are forcing parents who will pay for bus tickets or “concessionary tickets” to enter into a crude lottery system, according to the Senator.
He said: “Bus Éireann who deliver the service on behalf of the Government have advised me that they can not spend additional money for a larger bus or an additional bus to provide school transport to these families. This is just unacceptable and it is indicative of the wider neglect of rural Donegal.”
“I have now brought the situation in Gleneely and other parts of Donegal to the attention of the Minister for School Transport, John Halligan and he has advised me that his office is examining the issues.
“The Minister and his Government need to make it clear to Bus Éireann that this lottery system needs to end and that parents who are willing to pay for their children’s school transport are supported to do so.”
