Closing date for Westmeath transport scheme applications passed before it was announced

Westmeath parents have been excluded from a Department of Education transport scheme because the closing date for applications had already passed before the programme was announced.

At the end of last month it was announced the Department had sanctioned three new bus routes to service pupils attending St Joseph’s in Rochfortbridge having the potential “for significant cost saving to many families”.

However the transport scheme was only announced after the official closing date for applications had already passed, leaving many families without access to any school transport.

The bus routes from Killucan, Kinnegad area, Raharney, Clonard area and Mullingar town saw parents pay for a private transport operator to take their children to St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge.

The scheme announced by the Department should have seen parents pay €75 for a child’s ticket for the year, capped at €125 if they have more than one child on the bus, while the children of medical card holders wouldn't have to pay a fee.

Minister Robert Troy has written to Michael Moynihan, the Minister of State at the Department of Education with special responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion, to address the issue: “As you will be aware, this scheme was only announced after the official closing date for applications had already passed,” Minister Troy said, “This has resulted in every application submitted since the announcement being deemed late.”

Deputy Troy said in the letter that the exclusion has had a knock on effect: “Given that there was no previous school transport route servicing the school, most parents whose children attend St Joseph’s had not applied for a ticket on the public scheme.

“We now face a situation where some families, who did apply despite there being no route, are paying €75 per year, while their immediate neighbours are paying up to €1,000 annually for private transport."

The Minister of State at the Department of Finance continued: “We understand that some private bus operators are withdrawing services due to the pilot route announcement, leaving families without access to the school transport they previously relied upon.

“Considering these circumstances, I respectfully request that the Department reopen the school transport portal for eligible families. This would provide parents with a fair opportunity to apply and be considered for places on the newly announced public route.”