Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Last Friday evening parents of students living in Donaghmoyne, Lisdoonan and other parts of south Monaghan who attend three post-primary schools in Carrickmacross and Scoil Phádraig primary school in Corduff were notified by Bus Éireann that their school buses would be unavailable from yesterday morning, essentially the next school day. This is a familiar story of families having little or no notice of disruption to a school bus service. They are told the service will remain out of service until an alternative operator is found. Does the Taoiseach think this is acceptable? If not, what will he do about it? The reason for this cancellation is that the bus driver turned 70. He is deemed fit to drive other buses but is precluded from doing so for Bus Éireann for these school runs. Despite having this arbitrary rule, Bus Éireann clearly made no plan and has left these families and students, some of whom are facing exams in the coming weeks, in the lurch. The Minister will not answer any questions and calls it an operational matter. This is not good enough in my view. What does the Taoiseach say to these and other families? How will he help to resolve their predicament?

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