Parents' anger as 18 children left with no school bus place into Kilkenny

Parents of students in Gowran who have lost out on a school bus seat this year have been protesting to highlight their plight.

Eighteen children received emails a week before schools opened in September to say they had not secured a seat on the bus into Kilkenny for the school year.

Local parent Dolores Pitt says the situation has always been an issue in Gowran, and every year it’s a lottery with some families missing out - but this year the situation was made worse with the announcement of free school transport.

"We were delighted when Minister for Education Norma Foley agreed to funding for additional buses to sort the situation as it was a nation wide issue. Despite this Gowran has not yet secured an additional bus. Representations have been made to local ministers and CIE and no progress has being made," she said.

"Untold stress is been placed on families who struggle daily to get their kids to school. 2 hours a day of driving. Parents are struggling to get to work and get primary school children to school while making this daily trip. The numbers of cars on the roads unnecessary following the bus."

Parents fear that with the numbers of children graduating from Gowran National School increasing, the issue is going to reach crisis stage next September if there isn't an additional bus on the road.