"School bus situation in Waterford can be fixed" - McGuinness

Sinn Féin proposals will fix school transport chaos currently ongoing in County Waterford.

That's the view of Waterford City & County Councillor, Conor McGuinness, who told Waterford News & Star that his party's policy document on reform of the school transport system will "fix the chaos" that families across Waterford are facing.

The plan, which was launched by Sinn Féin education spokesperson, Sorca Clarke TD, sets out how the party would expand school transport and deliver an additional 100,000 school bus places, which Cllr McGuinness said would benefit students and their parents, as well as reduce traffic congestion.

Speaking on the matter in Dungarvan, Cllr McGuinness said: "Sinn Féin has just launched a comprehensive plan to reform school transport and ensure that it works for students and their parents. This would involve an investment of more than €250 million. Our plan would expand school transport and deliver an additional 100,000 school bus places. It would expand the eligibility criteria for mainstream school transport and build capacity in the school transport system."

He said the investment would be provided to meet the projected increase in demand for SEN transport services, to ensure that the needs of children with disabilities are met.

“Crucially, our plan keeps the current payment rates to ensure affordability for families at a time when money is already stretched for so many," said Cllr McGuinness.

"Government have overseen a school transport system that is chaotic and not fit for purpose," he added.

"It does not meet the needs of students and their families."

He also referred to a protest that took place recently in Ardmore, in Co Waterford, where a campaign for a public school bus is ongoing while commenting that in other areas parents are left in limbo or forced to take on the expense of a private service.

“This week, schools have already started back and many communities have been left without their school bus service," he said.

"Some communities have no school transport options at all, meaning students are left entirely in the lurch," he added. "This means some families are faced with forking out €50 per student, per week, for private transport which is totally unaffordable."

The Sinn Féin General Election candidate said each year families face school transport chaos and confusion and that many families are "at their wits end".

“Sinn Féin’s plan sets out how a better, fairer and more sustainable way is possible," he said.

"I am calling on the Government to listen to Sinn Féin’s proposals and to act," he added.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Disability, Pauline Tully TD, said: “All children should be able to travel to school comfortably and safely. No child should feel left behind or treated as an afterthought by Government. Sinn Féin are committed to providing the investment needed to match the projected demand for Special Educational Needs transport services in Government."

"We support the integration of SEN pupils within mainstream transport services where this is appropriate and the preference of pupils’ families," she said.

"Sinn Féin’s plan will ensure families of all pupils can look to the future with certainty and plan ahead.”