Mattie McGrath warns of near chaos in school bus ticketing
Mattie McGrath warned that the education transport system is in near chaos because of school bus ticketing problems and driver shortages, saying families and pupils including those with special needs are suffering. He criticised officials for broken promises on raising the driving age for over-70s and called for urgent resolution.
Immediate problem
McGrath described confusion around school buses and tickets - many concessionary ticket holders are not using tickets, bus companies do not know how many pupils they will have, and officials had no warning of this year's disruption. He said the situation is a complete mess and is causing trauma for families and children.
Impact on pupils with additional needs
He emphasised that children with special or additional needs are especially affected and said these pupils must be prioritised for school bus places. The speech underlined concerns that the ticketing and allocation problems are worsening educational access for vulnerable students.
Driver shortages and age rules
McGrath warned that bus companies are scrambling to recruit drivers as some reach the age of 70, and he referenced earlier promises to allow people over 70 to continue driving subject to medical checks. He suggested that recruiting over-70 drivers could help as an immediate measure to ease shortages.
Government and departmental response
A ministerial response in the transcript noted that Minister Foley is working extremely hard on the issue and that the Department is working closely with Bus Aaron. The response said children with additional needs are being prioritised and that concessionary tickets and first-time applications are being looked at as a priority.
Consequences and urgency
McGrath warned the situation will deteriorate if not resolved and said it is unfair to families, students, bus companies and drivers. He pressed for the outstanding ticketing and driver issues to be sorted out urgently to avoid further disruption.
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There is absolutely near chaos in the education system with the situation where we are having school buses and tickets, what you thought was a great idea has really messed up the whole situation for many people, people with special needs and everything else, and it is so frustrating that people have tickets and are not using them, the bus companies don't know how many they are going to have, and you haven't done anything, you promised to see last November, and even early summer as well, that you would raise the age where people could drive over 70, could continue driving, provided they had a medical service, so bus companies are scrambling to get drivers, some of them are coming to 70, so the situation is going to get worse, but this has to be sorted out, and Stroke of a Pink could start out with the over 70s for extra drivers, but the ticket situation, the officials in Bosnia had no warning, there were situations bad every year, but this year it's a complete mess, and it's causing some trauma for families, children are worse for all students, and indeed the bus companies and drivers, and it's not fair to anyone, and it's not being resolved. Thank you Deputy for raising an important question, I know Minister Foley is working extremely hard on this issue, you mentioned there are children with additional needs, and I know that they are being prioritised in terms of ensuring that they have a school bus place, there are also people who have applied in relation to concessionary tickets, and also first applications are being looked at as a priority, but I know that the Department is working really closely with Bus Aaron on this matter. Thank you.
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