Fianna Fáil TD for Longford-Westmeath, Joe Flaherty, has welcomed confirmation from the Minister for Education and Skills that Bus Éireann will review all school transport routes in the Longford-Westmeath region.
He commented, “I am pleased to have received confirmation from the Minister for Education and Skills that Bus Éireann is to review all existing school transport routes in our region.
“This review will determine if additional buses are needed on some routes to allow them to abide by the public health guidelines.
“I am already working with many families desperately wondering how their children will get to school without additional capacity on these routes. Many have missed out on a concessionary spot on a school bus this year and as a result some parents are having to take time off work to get them to school.
“I want to commend Minister Foley for the work she and her Department have carried out to date in facilitating the return to schools this month. Now, I am hopeful that the Minister’s reassurance offers people in this situation a glimmer of hope that a seat may be allocated after all.
“We will continue to work with parents over the coming days and other families facing similar difficulties should contact my offices,” concluded Deputy Flaherty.