THE SCHOOL transport system has been criticised by a Fine Gael deputy who claims buses are leaving students with valid tickets on the side of the road.
Fine Gael school transport spokesman Frank Feighan says he has received a series of representations from parents throughout the country about students being refused access to school buses.
"It is clear that there are several reasons behind this disgraceful turn of events but it seems that an absence of planning is at the heart of the issue," Mr Feighan said.
"In some cases school buses are full by the time they reach a student, leaving him or her denied access to the bus and unable to get to school."
Mr Feighan says he will be raising the "outrageous situation" with Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe.
A spokesman for Bus Éireann said all children carried on their buses "are ticketed in advance and provided with accommodation on the basis of an adult seat each on a fully seat-belted fleet of vehicles.
"At the beginning of the school year it is possible that a small number of children may, for example, present for the wrong bus, but such situations can be rectified immediately when brought to our attention," he said.
