Hands Off School Transport System
Issued : Friday 24 April, 2009
Kilkenny Councillors Ann Phelan and Michael O'Brien respond to the 'Department of Transport's Submissions on the School Transport Value for Money Review'. They felt that public consultation is the first step by the government to curtail the school transport services and potentially reduce the service offered to those with special needs.
In their submission Cllrs. Phelan and O'Brien proposed the following points to the Transport Department, on behalf of their constituents:
We believe it is appropriate for the State to sustain a largely non means-tested, subsidised school transport service.
The purpose of this review should be to provide a better school transport service than heretofore.
It should be a service to primary and secondary school pupils/pupils from isolated rural areas/ pupils with special needs/pupils and families with limited means or other disadvantages.
The current schemes - Primary/Post-Primary/Special Needs/ Grants are effective in meeting the reasonable needs of pupils/parents/schools, but they need to be strengthened to meet with modern day requirements and demographic changes, where necessary.
The commitment made to the Goresbridge, community, Co. Kilkenny, "That no child will be disadvantaged by the closure of this school", as stated by the Minister for Transport, in advance of the closure of their local St. Bridget's Secondary School, should be honoured.
To secure trust between every local community and the State, the conclusions from the current school transport review must contain guarantees that this specific case and all future commitments will be fully honoured, when formal agreement on school closures/amalgamations are reached.
Cllr 
