Renewed concerns have been raised over Bus Eireann’s approach to a pilot school transport programme in South-East Clare.
It follows a meeting between the provider and elected representatives this week, in which it emerged school students would not be guaranteed a seat aboard the new service.
Following a review of the School Transport Scheme by the Department of Education last year, the South-East Clare corridor of Newmarket-On-Fergus, Sixmilebridge and Cratloe is now being trialled for a pilot school transport initiative.
Rather than the previous model of Bus Eireann employing contractors to fulfill school routes, this year students from the three villages attending St.Caimin’s and St.Patrick’s Comprehensive in Shannon will travel on the public 343 route instead.
It’s estimated the plans will apply to 450 students in total, all of whom will be supplied with Leap Cards to access the bus, however concerns over traffic congestion, lack of bus shelters, capacity, and safety are reigning supreme for parents.
The proposed sole drop off and collection point for Sixmilebridge is McGregor’s Pub, where its estimated 280 students will be availing of the service.
Bus Eireann has stated though that McGregor’s Pub is already a pick-up point for existing school buses and that to facilitate large student gatherings in the new term, they will offer four staggered pick-ups between 7:55am and 8:20am.
Sixmilebridge Parent Aoife Keogh whose two children will be on the new service fears this proposal will create a health and safety risk and logistical nightmare in the village.
Setright’s Tavern on the N18 had been proposed as the collection point for students boarding in Cratloe, however Bus Eireann has confirmed it will be changing this to a new location after the TII ruled it was unsafe for bus collections.
For students in Newmarket-On-Fergus, there will now be five stops along the route at Ballinewsky, Halpin’s , Minister’s Cross , Newmarket-On-Fergus Primary School and Boheroran.
Bus Eireann claims a full health and safety assessment has been conducted for the new service and that there are already examples of school children as young as 12 travelling on public transport in Dublin.
When asked if students would be guaranteed a seat, Bus Eireann responded with “No”, but went onto say the situation shouldn’t happen due to additional buses and morning time slots.
The provider also confirmed there’s no plan B for the service, but that tweaks will be made as necessary and the situation will be closely monitored.
According to Aoife, though, parents feel the Department of Education is failing in its duty of care to students.
Bus Eireann Statement
“Bus Éireann, along with representatives from the Department of Education, met with a number of elected representatives from Clare on Tuesday August 13th to discuss this upcoming school transport pilot on the 343 Limerick-Shannon-Ennis corridor.
The purpose of this meeting was to engage with local representatives both to provide information and to gather their input from their local constituents in relation to the pilot. Bus Éireann and the Department of Education committed to reviewing a number of issues raised including pick up and drop off points.
The safety of children travelling to school on our services is of paramount importance for both Bus Éireann and the Department of Education and is central to all decisions for routes and operations across the country. The pilot scheme has been designed to ensure there will be sufficient capacity for all children on these transport services serving the schools in the area.
The Bus Éireann local school transport office in Limerick are currently processing ticket allocations for the upcoming school year. Tickets are currently being issued and 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.”
You can listen to the full interview here:
