A local TD has called on the Government to provide a better school transport scheme.
Sinn Féín TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Pauline Tully, raised the issue in the Dáil this week. St Clare's in Cavan currently has no School Transport in place and, according to the Deputy, students are being told they're not eligible for it because they either live too close or are not attending their nearest school. The same issue is being reported for children in the Muff area who want to attend Coláiste Dún an Rí in Kingscourt and those children leaving Castlerahan NS to attend St Oliver's Post Primary in Oldcastle.
Addressing the Dáil, Deputy Tully called on the Government to speed up the phasing out of the distance requirement for students
"Roads are too narrow and too dangerous to travel on. The parents are working. We need a school transport system that will bring the students to school. The school transport review has recommended that the Department phase out the distance requirement and the requirement to attend one's nearest school. Can that be expedited? There is talk of a number of pilot projects for this September on putting school transport in situations under those new criteria. How are those pilot areas being selected?"
Minister Helen McEntee responded by saying plans are progressing for removing some of the distance requirements and a timeline is currently being worked on
