Bus Éireann cancels school buses in five counties over weather warning

Many parents will need to make alternative arrangements.

Thousands of children will be without transport at the start of the next school week as Bus Éireann has cancelled school buses in five counties. School Transport Scheme services in Cork, Kerry, Clare, Mayo and Galway will not run on Monday morning in light of Met Éireann’s Status Red weather warning. In a statement, Bus Éireann said it contacted parents and schools yesterday to warn that this could happen as Hurricane Ophelia makes its way towards Ireland. The measure is in place to make sure children are not endangered in any way, it added.

"Many of the 116,000 children who use the School Transport Scheme daily make their way to pick up points to board the bus, on minor roads, and could therefore be exposed to severe elements," said the transport provider. "Bus Éireann want to eliminate any risk this might result in. "We are aware this decision may cause inconvenience, but safety of schoolchildren is our number one priority."

The company said it expects that services will be back up and running on Tuesday morning as the weather warning is set to end early on Tuesday. You can keep up to date with developments on the Bus Éireann website here.