"Some students are not attending school because they cannot afford to pay for the bus to get there."
That's according to Cavan Senator Pauline Tully who raised her concerns on the matter in the Seanad this week.
According to Senator Tully, there are 32 students enrolled in St Bricin's school in Belturbet who live in Cavan town or its environs.
There are secondary schools in Cavan town but they are all full.
St Bricin's was led to believe that if there were ten students or more in this situation that the Department of Education and Youth would sanction a school bus from Cavan town to St Bricin's College to bring these students.
Despite this, students have been left in limbo and "do not know" whether this bus is going to be sanctioned.
At the moment, if students can afford it, they are paying for a private bus, which costs €50 week per student.
Senator Tully brought this matter to the fore in the Seanad and asked Minister of State Michael Moynihan for "clarity." She says this matter must be addressed urgently.
Senator Tully explained: "The school was led to believe that if there were ten students or more in this situation that the Department of Education and Youth would sanction a school bus from Cavan town to St. Bricin's College to bring these students. They were informed of that last April. They actually registered for school transport and they paid or put in their medical card details but they have now been left in limbo in that they do not know whether this bus is going to be sanctioned.
"At the moment, if they can afford it, they are paying for a private bus, which costs €50 week per student. Some students are not attending school because they cannot afford to pay for the bus to get there. One family has three students going to that school so they are paying €150. There is no reduction for siblings or for more than one student in the school. This fee is charged whether the school is open or not, so if there is a day the school is closed for some reason or if there is a bank holiday in the week they still have to pay the €50. I contacted Bus Éireann staff who said they are aware of the situation and that they have notified the Department as they cannot put a route on without sanction from the Department."
