A South Donegal Deputy has told the Education Minister that there are 6,000 people taking up spaces on school buses on the basis ‘they might need it and that ‘it would be nice to have it’ as opposed to those who do need it.
Minister Norma Foley has appeared before the Oireachtas Education committee where it’s emerged 6,000 children across the country are still waiting to get a place on a school bus.
124,000 out of 130,000 students have had tickets issued by Bus Eireann, and Minister Foley says a review of the scheme and its failings will take place before the end of the year.
Deputy Marc MacSharry told the Minister that the issue has not been acknowledged enough:
Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh says its a problem across the board, particularly in one school where there is a particular ethos where 10 students entitled to a bus place have missed out this year.
Meanwhile, he believes the €150m spent on transport to special schools could be better spent on providing additional ASD classrooms in mainstream schools in Donegal:
