A dedicated frontline nurse fears she may have to give up her job to get her sons to school after they were refused a place on the school bus after three years.
Single mum Helen Tuffy from Bective, Co Meath says she is 'extremely frustrated' in trying to find a way to get her sons Ryan, 16 and Shay, 14, to their post-primary school 13km away in Dunshaughlin.
The boys had been receiving a concessionary pass since they started post-primary but didn't get it this year because of the demand on the free school bus places.
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"I'm stuck in an impossible situation. I used to go to work with ease knowing that the boys just went outside the front door and were picked up by the bus at 7.40am each morning," she said.
"They were getting a concessionary pass as the closest school to them is 8km away in Trim but we chose Dunshaughlin because all their friends were going there and it was on my way to work in case I needed to get there in an emergency.
"We were told we weren't successful this year with the bus pass, but then I heard from a neighbour that there are still two free seats on the bus and the driver stopped to pick them up on the first day, thinking they were on with him again.
"They can go up the road and get the public Bus Eireann service but it leaves at 7am. They'd be at the school gates at 7.20am waiting ages for the school to be opened.
"I have no family here to help bring them to school. I've had to ask for help on local social media groups. Everyone has been so kind but they all travel at different times.
"I work from 7.30am to 4pm and I've had to take annual leave at the minute. I can't afford to give up my job but I may have no choice.
"I worked Covid wards all through the pandemic and we got through it and survived it and now this! I'm at work checking on my phone to see if I can get them home that day, and already worrying about how I'll manage the following day.
"I've put in a 2,500 word appeal to Bus Eireann but haven't heard anything back. I don't normally speak about things publicly but I feel I have no choice. I've really been pro-active in trying to find a solution but just can't. It's constant stress at the minute."
"It's absolute madness that there is no-one taking responsibility for this mayhem."
Bus Eireann said in a statement: "Bus Éireann would like to acknowledge the unprecedented demand for the school transport scheme this year.
"As of today, Bus Éireann school transport offices across Ireland have issued over 121,000 tickets for mainstream school transport services for the new school year for those who meet the qualifying criteria for the scheme.
"To date, over 5,100 tickets have been issued for school transport in County Meath for the school year 2022/23, which represents an increase of 12% on the previous year.
"In response to increased demand, nationally we have to date secured over 272 additional school transport vehicles and 116 services have had larger capacity vehicles added to the service, or the route extended.
"Additional call centre staff are currently being recruited to deal with the large volume of calls being received.
"Bus Éireann is continuing to procure additional capacity for school transport services to cater for remaining pupils who meet the eligibility criteria of the scheme.
"Children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest Primary school or reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest Post Primary school, as determined by the Department of Education and Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. This criteria has not changed for the 2022/23 school year.
"We appreciate the patience and understanding of parents and students during this time."
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