Newbridge Families Left Without School Bus Service Days Before New School Term Begins

In a message seen by Kfm, Bus Éireann has notified users of the school bus service on route B4328 that they have had trouble setting up transport on some routes, resulting in the service being cancelled

Families in Newbridge have been notified that a school bus service has been cancelled, days before the new school term begins.

In a message seen by Kfm, Bus Éireann has notified users of the school bus service on route B4328 that they have had trouble setting up transport on some routes, resulting in the service being cancelled.

Social Democrats councillor for Newbridge, Chris Pender, has called on Bus Éireann and the Department of Education to urgently resolve serious failures in the School Transport Scheme.

Cllr Pender said:

“Over the past 48 hours, I have been contacted by numerous parents whose children attend schools in Newbridge, including Newbridge Educate Together and Gael Choláiste Chill Dara. Despite having received valid school bus tickets, families have now been informed that their routes such as B4328 and B5288 will not operate due to driver shortages or lack of contractors.

“This has caused huge distress to parents, many of whom now face impossible choices. Some families have siblings split across different routes, with one child’s bus cancelled while another still has a service. Others are being asked to pay up front for alternative transport, with the promise of retrospective reimbursement under an ‘interim grant’ a completely unworkable approach for low-income households who cannot afford to shoulder those costs.

“What parents need right now is clarity and certainty. Why were tickets issued before routes were secured? How many children in Kildare have been affected? And when can families expect a replacement service to be in place? These are the questions Bus Éireann and the Department of Education must urgently answer.”

Similarly, Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, has criticised the last-minute cancellation of school bus services in Wicklow.

Deputy Whitmore said she has been contacted by concerned parents across Wicklow who were informed late last night that no transport arrangements are in place for their child’s school route next week, despite having already received tickets under the School Transport Scheme.

This comes as the Junior Transport Minister wants Bus Éireann to allow drivers over 70 be able to take children to and from school.

They're not allowed under current policies, with Bus Éireann saying it's based on safety advice from the Road Safety Authority, which warns collision risk rises sharply after 65 for drivers of large vehicles.

It also says it's engaging with the Departments of Education and Transport on the matter.