Fine Gael Councillor Patsy O’Brien has said that thousands of pupils have been forced out of the school transport system following the recent ticket price hikes at the beginning of September.
“The number of students availing of school transport has dropped dramatically and it has decreased to the 2005 level,” Cllr O’Brien said.
“These price hikes have caused immense hardship to thousands of families,” Cllr O’Brien continued. “The fee was increased for junior cycle students from €168 to €300 this year and from €213 to €300 for senior cycle students up to Leaving Cert.
“These increases created huge pressure for parents and for many it was simply a case that they could not afford the exhorbitant prices and had no choice but to try to get children to school themselves.
“The impact of these increases is particularly felt in rural areas. Families have depended on this service for years but this latest hike in prices was simply a step too far by this Government,” concluded Cllr O’Brien.
