“Huge concerns” around the safety of a new school bus service being trialled in Clare have been highlighted by parents.
With just two weeks to go until secondary schools reopen their doors, Bus Éireann has announced that students in the south-east of the county availing of its services to travel to Shannon will do so by way of the 343 public bus service.
On August 6th, parents in Newmarket-on-Fergus, Sixmilebridge and Cratloe whose children are registered for Bus Éireann’s school bus service for the coming academic year received an email informing them of the details of the service.
Following on from a Department of Education review of the School Transport Scheme, a new pilot scheme is being trialled in south-east Clare whereby students will travel on the existing 343 bus service which ordinarily goes from Limerick to Ennis via Shannon.
Bus Éireann has told parents their students will be issued with Leap Cards which they can use to avail of other public transport services in their area.
It’s understood the designated pick-up area for the between 270 and 280 students who’ll be using the service in Sixmilebridge will be McGregor’s Pub which doesn’t currently have a bus stop or shelter.
Among the concerns raised by parents are health and safety, traffic congestion arising from increased bus activity and value for money.
Sixmilebridge mother Edel Rafferty – whose three children will be starting back in St. Caimin’s in Shannon this month – says it’s not the service she paid for.
You can listen to the full interview here:
In a statement to Clare FM, Bus Éireann says it’s new approach to school transport has a stated goal of “greater integration with the public transport”.
The statement also says “the Bus Éireann local school transport office in Clare are processing ticket allocations for the upcoming school year and tickets are being issued in line with the guidelines of the scheme”.
“Bus Éireann will contact families in the near future to provide information on their transport arrangements for the 2024/2025 school year, including those who are part of the pilot scheme”.
Local representatives in south-east Clare are meeting with Bus Éireann this afternoon to discuss the concerns put forward by parents.
Newmarket-on-Fergus Fianna Fáil Councillor David Griffin claims many parents are worried about the prospect of their children going to school on a service used by the general public.
You can listen to the full interview here:
