Minister John Halligan has said he is powerless to solve the problem of school bus place shortages just days before meeting a delegation from Laois.
Around 15 families from Emo and Vicarstown have been left without school transport just days before their children return to school.
Junior Education Minister John Halligan said he was powerless to solve the problem.
Mr Halligan said legislative change and substantial funding would be needed to provide more buses and extra seats for pupils who weren’t automatically eligible.
“You hold your head in your hands sometimes as a minister. You get in there and you find it’s so difficult to change things,” he told the Irish Independent.
Mr Halligan is to hold talks with affected families from Laois, and also Tipperary, on Wednesday.
In total, more than 114,000 children avail of school transport in rural areas, with some 24,000 travelling on a concessionary basis.
Concessionary passengers are those who are accommodated on buses if there are spare seats once all “eligible” students get their place.
Bus Éireann provides the service. A spokeswoman told the Irish Independent the availability of concessionary tickets may vary each year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s secondary education.
Refunds
Unsuccessful applicants get refunds and must make alternative arrangements.
Parents in Emo and Vicarstown have been told that schools in Portlaoise are not their nearest schools, even though the primary schools their children go to are feeder schools for secondary schools in Portlaoise.
The school bus department told parents that transport is available for schools in Athy and Monasterevin, but some of these schools are already over-subscribed and will not take school children from Laois.
A 32-seater bus currently serves Emo and Vicarstown and parents say a 52-seater bus would solve the problem.
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