Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The school bus transport problems in rural Ireland are diabolical. Constituents based in various parts of the country have contacted me because they cannot go to work as they must bring their children to school. Many other people have been keeping their children home from school because there is no school bus available. There was a lack of organisation to deal with the problems caused by Covid. Initially, people could not get tickets. When they did get tickets, there was no space for them on the bus. They were then told the rules had changed. This is a crisis affecting ordinary families who are doing their best. There were problems before Covid and those problems have multiplied. An effort needs to be made to step up to the mark and recognise that families with school-going children in all parts of the country, not just in urban areas, have a right to a school transport system.

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