Carthy urges parents to register for school transport as 66 Monaghan children still left stranded
Local Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy has urged local parents to register their children for the Bus Éireann school transport scheme ahead of the April 30th deadline.
Registrations are only required at this stage for those not already participating in the scheme or those who have moved address, with those seeking a renewal of existing tickets due to be contacted in July.
Deputy Carthy this week revealed that 66 children in County Monaghan, who are eligible for school transport, still remain without a bus seat due to the failure of government to provide sufficient places.
The Cavan Monaghan TD said:
“The provision of school transport in Monaghan this academic year proved to be a fiasco for many families.
“Throughout the year I was working with parents of children who were eligible for school transport but who registered late for the scheme. In the midst of the pandemic, when many were struggling financially it was understandable how this happened. But, unfortunately government were slow to show any understanding and slower still to provide the spaces necessary.
“The families concerned were met by an overburdened customer support system in Bus Éireann, and an Education Minister who failed to recognise the hardship caused when a child is refused a place on their school bus.
“According to a response to a Parliamentary Question I submitted there are still 66 eligible children in County Monaghan who have not secured a place on school transport.
“I will continue to press for a full re-evaluation of the school transport system so as to ensure that every child can get a seat on a bus to the school of their choice.
“But, in the meantime, I urge all parents of children starting a new school in September or joining the school transport scheme for the first time, to ensure that they register before the 30th April deadline”.
ENDS
