County Down Outlook - News - School bus cut fears allayed

News

School bus cut fears allayed

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

FEARS have been allayed regarding cuts in the school bus service in Rathfriland.
However, the Southern Education and Library Board have admitted that some pupils will no longer be able to receive concessionary seating on the bus service provided by them.
It was initially believed that the complete bus service was to be scrapped, leaving parents in a quandary as to how they would ferry their children to Iveagh Primary School and Rathfriland High School, given the different starting and finishing times at the schools, causing them to make several journeys in the one day.
However, a spokesperson for the SELB told The Outlook that the bus service will continue for those eligible pupils who attend Iveagh Primary School.
It is understood that the Board provides a bus service for pupils who attend Iveagh Primary School within the local area, which they have done so for several years. It has been common practice for a bus to collect pupils going to Rathfriland High School, providing there were sufficient free seats on the bus. This was a concessionary service by the Board, and did not mean those pupils collected were automatically eligible for a seat on the bus.
Parents had raised concerns that cuts to the bus service would result in no pupils having a bus to take them to school.
The SELB spokesperson told The Outlook that it was "in accordance with Department of Education guidance on School Transport that the SELB has a statutory obligation to provide transport assistance to eligible pupils."
“Where spare seats exist on SELB buses the Board may, at its discretion, allow non-eligible pupils to travel on a concessionary basis to and from school," said the spokesperson. "The Board is required to ensure the method of assisting pupils is suitable with regard to efficiency and economy.
“Following routine reviews of routes in the Rathfriland area the Board plans to reorganise its fleet of buses more efficiently in the area and concessionary travel will no longer be available. This will become effective in the new school year in September 2010.
“In April 2010 the Board wrote to parents of those non-eligible pupils affected by this change, to advise that it is no longer able to offer concessionary transport to their children, as of September 2010 parents will be responsible for organising transport to and from school for their children, including any journeys to and from local bus stops."
Principal of Rathfriland High School, Mr Philip Vance told The Outlook that as far as he knew "everyone who is entitled to transport will be getting transport."
“I have been assured by the Board that this will be the case, that those pupils entitled to transport will continue getting it," he said.
“The transport is organised by the SELB and not by the school. We have been told that those who require transport shall be getting it. That is my understanding of it."
UUP MLA for South Down, John McCallister, said he was "extremely alarmed to learn of changes to the SELB bus service, affecting Iveagh Primary School and Rathfriland High School pupils."
“This is a vital service for the rural community around Rathfriland and a lifeline to many families," he said.
“I have already made contact with the SELB over this issue and will fight for the retention of this valued service."
Mr McCallister also urged anyone affected by the proposed bus cuts to contact his office in person.