Calls are being made for the Education Authority to address a transport anomaly for pupils in Lurgan.
Some families in the Silverwood Leaves area of the town are entitled to a bus pass while neighbours on the same street are not.
Sinn Féin councillor Catherine Nelson explained: “In Silverwood Leaves, there is a situation where some pupils qualify for a bus pass based on the 3-mile proximity to school rule while their next-door neighbours do not.
“The department must consider the implications of these rules on Silverwood Leaves.
“In some cases, the difference in distance is less than 150 metres, yet it means some residents are entitled to free school transport and others are not – despite these children using the same bus stop and taking the same route to the same school.”
Cllr Nelson continued: “I understand the Education Authority must apply the rules as set by the Department of Education, and that is why the Department needs to look at this.
“We need some flexibility in the application of these rules and explore options which could address anomalies such as that in situations like Silverwood Leaves.”
Cllr Nelson has written to the Education Authority asking them to raise the issue with the Department and to explore solutions that reflect the problems faced by pupils, their parents and local families
