Bus service cut harming Catholic education in Dundee, committee told
The Catholic representative on Dundee City Council's education committee has claimed the withdrawal of a bus service to St John's High is undermining Catholic education.
- By Grant Smith, education reporter
- Published in the Courier : 06.10.11
- Published online : 06.10.11 @ 12.32pm
Monsignor Ken McCaffrey, Vicar General of the Diocese of Dunkeld, spoke after the decision by National Express to cut its 4S service, which took several dozen pupils from the west end to the school — one of only two Catholic secondaries in the city.
The company previously explained this was done for financial reasons as the route was uneconomic. However, parents remain upset and have complained that the alternative services available have added considerably to the time their children spend travelling each day and can leave them late for class.
Monsignor McCaffrey and Katy Dundas, the chairwoman of St John's parent council, have turned their fire on the council, claiming it has not done enough to support the pupils.
The monsignor said: ''The church fully supports the efforts of St John's parent council to have this situation addressed as a matter of urgency. At a recent meeting of the education committee, discussing the standardising of the school day, I was ruled out of order by the education convener when I raised the subject of school transport.
''Despite that, I was eventually given an assurance that the parent council would be involved in discussions on the provision of school transport in the city. However, we are also concerned that Mrs Dundas was told by the convener there is no money to subsidise transport to St John's, yet the parent council has learned there is apparently a substantial amount of cash sitting in the transportation budget — unspent and not legally committed — that would pay for a tendered service many times over.
''We feel the delay in addressing this issue is unacceptable. The October break is upon us, the clocks are changing, and this issue needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. We feel the provision of Catholic education for children in the west end of the city is being undermined, ultimately restricting educational choice for families who wish to have their children educated in a Catholic school.''
Monsignor McCaffrey said the diocese is now urging education convener Liz Fordyce to address the matter.
Mrs Dundas said: ''Many families are affected by this and these families have a growing sense of frustration and a sense that, despite their pleas for help, no effort is being made by Dundee City Council to resolve the situation.
''These children live in the catchment area for St John's and their parents chose this school, knowing of, and subsequently using, the 4S bus service. We find it completely unacceptable that this service is being removed simply for a money-saving exercise.
"Many buses in this city run at a loss, but are subsidised by Dundee City Council, because they provide a much-needed service for local communities. Surely the continuation of this school bus should also be considered a service?
"Our parents are not asking for a free bus service, they are quite happy to continue to pay for it.
''At the moment, many of the children who are using the recommended alternative bus services arrive at school late every morning, despite leaving home half an hour earlier than they did previously. We find this unacceptable.
''We urge Dundee City Council to make a commitment to continue to support Catholic education as an integral part of parental choice, by reinstating this bus service immediately.
''It is our view that, unless this happens, educational choices for families in the west end of the city will become restricted and ultimately our school roll will suffer.''
Councillor Fraser Macpherson said: ''Around 43 pupils are affected and when we get into the darker days and wintry weather very soon, the situation will worsen. The council must look proactively at either a minibus solution or a tendered service.''
He added: ''The bottom line is that there is £135,000 sitting at present unspent and not legally committed in the city council's registered bus services budget. It would be outrageous if we get into the winter months without this matter being properly resolved.''
A city council spokesman said: ''Dundee City Council has not subsidised school bus services in the city for more than 15 years.''
03.00pm - 06.10.2011 Dave North - Ayr, UK Report This
Hey here's a wild idea. Pay for YOUR own children to get to school like everyone else has to do.
03.46pm - 06.10.2011 Steve Scott - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Or better still, not have specific religious schools, and have kids travel to their nearest. If an organisation wants a religious school, it should be at that organisations cost. Same as sending kids past a school to attend a *better* school costs parents.
04.45pm - 06.10.2011 N E Strathtay - Dundee, Scotland Report This
what would be outrageous is expecting the council to stump up 10's of thousands a year in transport for 22 kids who live under 2 miles away. There were never 40 pupils on that bus and I've checked there are plenty buses from the west end via city centre taking less than 40 minutes to get there!
07.40pm - 06.10.2011 Ballumbie Ryan - Dundee, UK Report This
I agree with Steve Scott. If these schools want to encourage division on religious grounds then they should pay for them. What better way is there to make kids think they are different than send them to different schools based on religion?
07.47pm - 06.10.2011 Liz Lafferty - Dundee, Scotland Report This
It's not just 1school affected with this pathetic bus service it's the workers as well I work in ninewells hosp and lots of staff are enraged by the cuts they have made get rid of National Express the name couldn't be any more of a joke !!!
07.55am - 07.10.2011 Kenny - Forfar, Scotland Report This
Why is it not the Ninewells workers moaning in the papers about the bus service or does religion carry more clout. Churches teach religion. Schools teach academic subjects. Therefore no need for religious schools. Simples.
08.33am - 07.10.2011 John Reid - Dundee, Scotland Report This
As a councillor surely Fraser Macpherson would be aware that Dundee City Council has not subsidised school bus services in the city for more than 15 years. He appears to be more interested in political mischief making instead of genuinely trying to help.
10.43am - 07.10.2011 Fraser Keil - Perth, Scotland Report This
I agree. I struggle to find sympathy for parents who insist of seding their kids to a religiously divisive school. I'm sure the could walk to the Harris Academy. The churchs will still be there on sunday to accomodate for their religion.
01.35pm - 07.10.2011 The Watcher - Dundee, UK Report This
I agree with John Reid because it sounds very much like the Lib Dems in Dundee are mischief making and it's not only over this bus service other active members have been causing problems and making mountains out of molehills for a few years in other parts of the city.
04.53pm - 07.10.2011 Dundee Secularist - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Good stuff. It's bad enough we, as taxpayers, have to fund these divisive institutions without the additional cost of funding transportation to them.
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