Galway East families face large transport bill as school route refused

Families in Galway East are facing school transport costs of up to €1,500 a year for one child after being forced to rely on private bus operators due to a lack of school transport to Coláiste Bhaile Chláir in Claregalway.

Published 17th Jun 2026, 14:09 BST Background image Coláiste Bhaile Chláir FB page. | Iconic Families in Galway East are facing school transport costs of up to €1,500 a year for one child after being forced to rely on private bus operators due to a lack of school transport to Coláiste Bhaile Chláir in Claregalway. Sign up to our Connacht Tribune Today daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Connacht Tribune within your account.

Parents have questioned why a dedicated route cannot be established when more than 30 students have already been identified as needing transport.

They said that Bus Éireann has refused transport because no school bus route currently exists to the school from the area.

As a result, many families have been forced to rely on private bus operators, with parents paying around €35 per child each week.

“It's a real stress and a real worry,” said Mayor of Galway City Cllr Mike Cubbard (Ind).

“I spoke to one family who are paying over €1,500 per year for one child. The cost of putting kids through school is already high and this situation is crazy.”

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Bus Éireann's decision not to provide the service affects parents from Ballybane, Ballybrit, Doughiska, Roscam, Merlin, and Renmore.

One of the reasons cited is the lack of a previous route in place, a move the Mayor considered to be “daft” and a decision that is not in line with the Galway City Climate Action Plan.

“If that is the route we are going to go down, we might as well scrap the climate action plan, if we start going on past histories of what has been in place before. We need a bit of cop on here and a bit of common sense. We have several families all travelling one way at the same time.”

Mayor Cubbard acknowledged the lack of local school places for children.

“There is no point in saying on a map that it is too far away,” he continued.

“We don't live in an ideal world. Kids don't go to a school close to their home. There is a lack of school places in local areas and that is also a very real stress for parents. Their children are attending a school, not by choice as they didn't get a place in their local area, and now they are being penalised.

“Here we have 30-plus kids travelling in one direction. No one in an office can say it doesn't make sense to have a bus service. It is a win-win solution that will suit families.”

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Parents' spokesperson Karolina Sexton said families are frustrated that no dedicated bus service will be provided for the 2026/27 school year despite clear demand.

They argued that it raises wider concerns about equal access to education and public services for families in growing communities across Galway East.

"There is a genuine sense of frustration among families," she said.

"Parents are not asking for a special arrangement. We are simply seeking the same access to school transport that families in many other areas already receive."

In the interim, Cllr Alan Cheevers (FF) has called for a subsidy to help families with what he described as the financial “burden” of a private bus service.

However, Mayor Cubbard argued that Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton must intervene, stating that a subsidy would only “paper over the cracks”.

At a recent SPC meeting, he proposed that Galway City Council write to Bus Éireann School Transport in Galway to urgently review applications for a dedicated school transport service from the east of Galway city to Coláiste Bhaile Chláir.

Cllr Cheevers said he has contacted Minister of State Michael Moynihan in relation to the issue to press for a solution for the families affected.

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Related topics: Parents Bus Éireann Mayor Galway East Education Galway City Council Sign up to our Connacht Tribune Today daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Connacht Tribune within your account.