Leas Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Councillor Niamh Smyth has expressed her utter shock at a recent sneaky action by Bus Éireann describing their plans to remove a bus service from Killinkere National School as ‘an alarming step backwards for rural Ireland’.
The school received a letter from Bus Éireann after the school closed for its summer holidays informing them that a school bus which transported pupils to the school last year and which was due to transport the same amount of pupils again this September is being withdrawn from the school. This decision by Bus Éireann came as a major shock to all concerned and was not previously discussed with the school. Teachers have already been assigned their classes for next year. The families concerned have been using the bus service for the past number of years and are at a loss to understand how a decision that impacts on their lives could be made with pout any warning or consultation.
Cllr Smyth stated that the loss of this vital service and transport link to the school has left parents and management in a very difficult situation. “It is shocking that Bus Éireann did not have the decency to give more notice to all involved about the withdrawal of this service. Parents who are working, are not in a position to drop children to school at 9am and collect them at 3pm. Even if parents were happy to enrol their children in other schools to which they would get a bus to, which they are not willing to do, they couldn’t easily do so at this point for September now that schools have closed for the holidays.” said the newly elected Leas Cathaoirleach.
‘Trevor Nesbitt is very well known and liked by all of the pupils whom he transports, their parents and school staff. He has provided a very reliable and valued service to Killinkere N.S for many years. Trevor recently upgraded his bus on the presumption that his five year contract with Bus Éireann to provide transport to the school would be honoured’.
‘This has to be about more than just budgets. Bus Éireann is funded by the taxpayer and it has a public responsibility to serve all communities across the county. Cllr Smyth is calling on the Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe to intervene immediately and ensure a stay of execution is exercised until the matter has been investigated further and resolved to the satisfaction of local parents who depend on the service’ stated Cllr. Smyth.
01 July 2015
Cllr Niamh Smyth, Adelaide, Row, Bailieborough, Co. Cavan
t: 042 966 66 66 m: 087 998 22 22 e: nsmyth@cavancoco.ie