Minister must drive on with school transport budget – Lombard

The Education Minister must ensure no child is left on the side of the road due to a lack of school buses, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Tim Lombard, Fine Gael General Election candidate for Cork South-West, said: “In Budget 2025, an additional €52m has been allocated to the School Transport Scheme.

“Funding does not appear to be an issue when it comes to the school transport scheme but there is on onus on Minister Foley to ensure this money is used efficiently and adequately.

“We cannot continue to have Bus Éireann or the Department of Education moving goalposts or putting obstacles in the way of ensuring those who apply for school transport get a seat on the bus.

“There is an incredible situation in my own constituency at the moment where Bus Eireann have said that a ‘larger vehicle would not be suitable for roads used on a bus route’.

“This is the reason given for leaving twenty-two primary school children without school transport. It’s just not good enough.

“Additional funding for school transport won’t help these families or give us the efficient school transport scheme families deserve without a change in approach from all involved.

“I am reiterating my call for bus drivers over 70 to be allowed to drive school buses, to alleviate the shortage of drivers. These are experienced drivers who are well equipped to drive children to school, many of whom are working locally for contractors.

“With the school-going population set to soar in the coming years, this is a common-sense solution which would provide more capacity within the scheme.

“The review of the School Transport Scheme was finally published in February, but the timelines for implementation of the reforms are too slow.

“Reforms such as the reduction of distance and nearest school criteria must be implemented without delay.

“With so many students and families relying on the scheme to get to school the implementation of the reforms and alleviation of driver shortages must be addressed as a matter of priority.

“Minister Foley and her Department, along with Bus Éireann need to stop putting roadblocks in the way and get real about providing school transport to every family who want and need to use the school bus,” Senator Lombard concluded.