TII unaware of dangerous Ardmore bus pick-up

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has said that they were unaware that a school transport bus pick-up was located at the side of a busy national road.

Since the start of the academic year, parents of pupils travelling from Ardmore to secondary school in Dungarvan have been required to drive to the pick-up point at Kiely’s Cross on the N25. Parents have raised their concerns about the safety of the location and multiple protests have taken place in an attempt to solve the situation.

In response to the issue raised by Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh this week, TII indicated that it “was not aware of this issue and has now raised it with Waterford City and County Council, the road authority for the area.” 

The statement continued: “Kiely's Cross is a high-speed rural section of road that is not suitable for a bus stop nor is it an appropriate location for a concentration of services as outlined in your submission.

“The bus had previously stopped in the village and TII is aware that the Department of Education arranged for a bus to stop on a busy rural section of national road without consulting with the Council and TII. TII is aware that the Council is liaising with the Department of Education in relation to the matter.” 

Deputy Ó Cathasaigh subsequently said: “It is alarming that road safety issues are not paramount in all decisions made by the Dept. of Education School Transport division and all operators in the provision of services to students. The location of this school bus pick-up point is wholly inappropriate for road safety reasons.” 

He added: “The obvious point of origin for the pick up of school transport is the village of Ardmore itself, rather than have parents drive onto a busy national road for their children to take school transport.

"I very much welcome TII’s clear indication that it is unsuitable and inappropriate location as a pick-up point given the volume of users. “