Offaly children left without transport to special school

Edenderry’s Independent Ireland councillor Fergus McDonnell has slammed Bus Eireann and the Minister for Education as several children in the greater Edenderry area are yet to receive transport to school.

In a statement this week, Cllr McDonnell said he had been contacted by parents in the general Edenderry area who are extremely concerned for the wellbeing of their children now nearly halfway through the school term and without transport to Cara Community Special School in Enfield.

"This wholly unsatisfactory situation is causing major distress and upheaval for several parents and indeed pupils," stated Cllr McDonnell.

"Parents have contacted Bus Eireann repeatedly since the start of the school term with a standard reply advising parents the service will commence on completion of a tender process."

Cllr McDonnell contrasted what he said was "a total disregard and insult for the well-being of our most cherished children" with what he said was the "back slapping between all the government parties with the recent budget announcement".

"This is a true measure of our society and economy," he said.

He said he had contacted both senior and junior Ministers for Education, as well as Bus Eireann CEO and Bus Eireann senior management to bring about an urgent resolution.