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School bus row "completely
senseless" - McConalogue
22.04.15
AN Inishowen TD has
appealed for "common sense" in a transport row that
will see Urris pupils having to switch secondary
schools from Carndonagh to Buncrana.
A new system of calculating distances for school bus
purposes, deems Mamore Gap the shortest route to
school for children in the Urris area.
But Deputy Charlie McConalogue said the system does
not take into account the unsuitability of Mamore
Gap as a school transport route, especially in
treacherous winter conditions. He said there was
also a long tradition of Urris families attending
Carndonagh Community School. |
"The introduction
online registration for the school transport scheme
as well as the use of Google Maps to determine
distances, pupils from the area are being told they
now have to attend secondary school in Buncrana,"
said Deputy McConalogue.
“This new system is completely senseless (and) has
the potential to lead to a situation where two
siblings are attending two separate schools in
different locations, as the new rules only came into
force in September 2012." |
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Deputy Charlie McConalogue |
The school transport
system uses a variety of methods to calculate the
shortest route from a child’s home to the nearest
school, including a specially designed GPS mapping
system.
Deputy McConalogue added: “I am extremely concerned
that the system used to calculate the distance does
not take the condition of the routes in question
into account. Bus Eireann has decided to use a road
through Mamore Gap in calculating one of the routes,
despite the fact that the road itself is dangerous,
particularly in the winter months, and could put the
safety of these children at risk. Despite the
concerns raised by local parents, Bus Eireann is
refusing to rule out this option." The local Fianna
Fáil TD said he has been working on the issue with
both Councillor Martin McDermott and Councillor Rena
Donaghy and "will be raising this issue directly
with (Education) Minister Jan O’Sullivan on the
floor of the Dáil this week." |
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