Bus Éireann has confirmed that 600 secondary-school students across Cavan, Monaghan and Louth will not receive bus tickets for the coming academic year, as a result of the impact of Covid-19 on the school transport capacity.

That is according to Cavan councillor, Sarah O’Reilly (Aontú) who described the lack of capacity in the post-primary school transport system as a "mess".

Cllr. O’Reilly said:

"If you add the current lack of private providers left in the market due to its collapse, then alarm bells should have been sounding in the Department of Education.

She has criticised Minister for Education, Norma Foley, for the current situation and said she hopes the minister has advocated on behalf of students and their families to NPHET for a "common-sense increase in bus capacity".

"Many who availed of the concessionary bus tickets last year are only finding out this week that they have not been successful.

“It is difficult for parents to understand why 100% capacity on post-primary transport was acceptable last year, yet it is not acceptable this year."