Waterford students face dangerous walk to catch school bus

Last week, two protests took place in Ardmore, Co. Waterford, to call on the government to take urgent action to address the lack of school transport for secondary school students as the academic year returns.

At present, the only option for children is to meet a bus on the busy N25 road. This solution presented as a compromise by the Department of Education was branded a “cop out not a compromise” by local parents.

Parents believe it is extremely dangerous, particularly on dark winter evenings. They said that the N25 between Youghal and Dungarvan is a notoriously dangerous stretch of road and indeed there was a serious road traffic accident there while the protest was taking place last week in Ardmore.

Last week, parents from Ardmore also appealed to political representatives to find a solution to the issue.

Representatives said: “Students who thought they were on a small bus were misinformed so had to cross the N25 to get the large bus. Traffic was passing during all this time and there was not enough space on the hard shoulder.

“We urgently need a school bus that comes to Ardmore village; parents continue to be concerned about the safety of the bus pick up at Kiely's cross.” 

Ardmore parent Anto Howard spoke further to the Waterford News & Star about the situation, saying “there's two sides to the issue, the first is getting an accessible bus for Ardmore people, the second is a safety issue with the current offering of going up to the N25 to get collected, which has had more accidents on it this week.

"We need an affordable bus for the people of Ardmore and that has the capacity for all the kids. We're not leaving anyone behind."

It is estimated that approximately 20% of the entire population of Ardmore attended each protest.

Anto also reminded political representatives that this "dangerous and inaccessible" bus does not have seats for every child and therefore should not be presented as a viable solution.

Parents have made representations to the Department of Education, Local Link and local political representatives but there is still no solution in place.

Brenda Griffin, one of the organisers of last weekend’s protest, said it is "really shocking" that no progress has been made on this issue for the rural community of Ardmore in two decades.

“With the support of the whole community, we are going to continue to raise this issue and will remember who stood beside us come election time," she said.

The Department of Transport and Department of Education were approached for comment by the Waterford News & Star.

We were told: “The Department of Education are best placed to answer it as it falls within their remit.” 

A statement from this Department said: “Over 3,300 tickets have issued to eligible and concessionary students in Waterford for the 2024/2025 school year, an increase of 4% on tickets issued at the same time last year.

“All eligible pupils on the route who applied and paid/entered medical card details on time who meet the criteria for the school transport scheme have been issued tickets. 

"Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and will be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated.

“Bus Éireann has advised that in general pupils residing in Ardmore are concessionary pupils as they reside closer to Youghal PPC. They further advised that a supervisor has been in place at the location to monitor the situation."