Rural Wexford area get green light for new school bus transport pilot programme

Local mother Emma Johnston has been speaking out against the lack of school transport for families living in the north Wexford area since December, 2022 and was delighted when the news of this progress was announced on Monday, September 30.

"I'm delighted because I have a child going into Gorey at the moment. We're a bit disappointed that it wasn't able to be rolled out across the three towns because as I keep saying there's children from this area going into Enniscorthy and Wexford as well.

"I hope we can continue to build on this going forward and maybe come next year if it's going well they could extend it for the families going to Wexford which I can't see why that would not happen. It's a win as well as Malcolm says," said Emma.

This will be one of the first new pilots in the country following the review of the School Bus Scheme and will come into operation during this school year.

The exact details and timeframe are yet to be confirmed but this is a major step forward for the children in this group who are attending school in Gorey.

A report Emma compiled along with a few other parents outlines that 150 families of over 188 children from the general areas of Oulart, The Ballagh, Kilmuckridge, Blackwater, Ballyedmond, Boolavogue, Ballygarrett and Monamolin were in need of school transport.

Those who have concessionary tickets to travel into Gorey will be able to transfer them into use on the pilot programme's service when it commences.

Similarly, concessionary tickets were issued to all of the students on their lists travelling to school in Enniscorthy this year. This is a significant improvement from last year.

Families travelling to secondary school in Enniscorthy are hoping to extend the existing bus route to Enniscorthy to include a pick-up in Oulart village.

"Any of the students from the Oulart area have to travel to the Ballagh or they meet it at crossroads or outside a private farmers entrance. We're wanting to get that route extended or altered by 5 or 6 kilometres to include one pick-up point in Oulart village where 20 students could get on the bus there instead of going out of the village to meet the bus at various points," said Emma.

It is currently costing €75 per year to send one child to school with Bus Éireann, in comparison to €40 per week on a private bus.

Unfortunately, during this year, there will not be a pilot service operating for those travelling to Enniscorthy or Wexford.

As a result, for the private bus parents will prepay in three early instalments approximately €40 per week, €1,320 per school year per child.

"It will be bringing students from our local area here in the Gorey secondary schools but the students that are in our area here going into Wexford or Enniscorthy are still left in the position to try and source a private bus to get their children to school and of course paying the enormous price of a private bus," said Emma.

Senator Malcolm Byrne has been working closely with Bus Éireann and the Department of Education to implement this project in the area. He also thanked local Councillors Pip Breen and Mary Farrell who have been very supportive during this process.