Fine Gael Senator, John Paul Phelan, has slammed government plans to hike school transport fees from €300 to €500 and to impose such charges on primary as well as secondary school children.
Senator Phelan said that the measure is anti-rural and anti-family and will undermine the viability of school transport in rural parts of Kilkenny and will demolish the concept of free primary education and undermine rural communities.
“This represents another cost burden on families in the middle of the worst recession in living memory, and it discriminates heavily against poorer families. There are families across Kilkenny who are already struggling to meet mounting fuel bills, service charges and mortgage payments. Mothers and fathers are losing their jobs and farm families are suffering one of the toughest times in a generation.
“More remote schools could be rendered un-viable as some parents may be forced to make alternative arrangements for their children. The government speaks of creating a green economy. But hiking up school transport fees will spur more families to drive their children to school; it will put more traffic on our roads at rush hour and it will lead to further chaos and potential accidents outside school gates every day of the school term.”
