School bus tickets denied to 150 students locally due to late payment

School bus services are being denied to 150 pupils in the Shannonside region because they paid for their tickets too late this year.

Education Minister Norma Foley confirmed the figures in a written answer to Cavan Monaghan TD Sinn Fein's Matt Carthy.

Currently there are 50 pupils eligible for bus tickets in Leitrim who haven't yet secured a place because of late payment, 61 in Westmeath, and 41 in Roscommon.

There are a further 59 in Longford and local Councillor Paraic Brady says late payment is a ridiculous reason to withhold transport for children who need their education.