A Trillick father has hit out this week at the “lack of information” received from the Education Authority in relation to the school bus service being provided for his 11-year-old son, who changed schools on Tuesday.

Barry Latimer, one of a number of Fermanagh and Tyrone families to find themselves in such a quandary at the start of the new school year, claimed that when the letter from the E.A. Western Region, arrived at their home last week, it referred to the bus times, but he said “there were no bus times on the letter”.

“It said the collection point was Trillick Road, Enniskillen,” noted Barry, adding: “That could be anywhere.” “We had to find out information from other parents,” said Barry, who highlighted the difficulties for an 11-year-old going to a “big school in Enniskillen” from a rural school. They knew nothing about “what bus to get or what time at,” said Barry, who mentioned that his wife was “in despair”.

On Tuesday morning, he said their son Dylan, who was moving from Queen Elizabeth II Primary School, Kilskeery to Devenish College, Enniskillen, was left into Trillick to get the Ulsterbus at eight o’clock.

“There was a total lack of information,” states Barry, who claimed his wife “could not get through to the Education Authority; the phones were jammed all the time.” Barry went on to say that “eventually she did get through” and he claims that they “said they were too busy to sort it at that time,” but “it would be sorted and information would become available.” Speaking on Tuesday, Barry, said “as yet” they had nothing stating “an actual time to leave at”.

On Tuesday morning, he said Dylan was brought into Trillick in the car. At this stage, he said they learned there is a yellow bus which would be at a crossroads just around the corner from their house; “it then goes into Trillick and links with an Ulsterbus.” Barry added there is a pick up again by yellow bus from an Ulsterbus at 4.30pm in Trillick and it then could do a drop off at the same crossroads.

It would be easy for Dylan “to walk home again,” feels Barry. “We will have to get the authorisation before we can put him on that bus,” he said.

The couple’s younger son, Jake, who is still at primary school in Kilskeery, gets picked up by a schoolbus at 8.30am at the end of their lane. Hence they find themselves in a difficult position, as Barry explains he leaves early in the mornings and his wife works full-time and they are also working along with childminders and family members.

Also caught up in the school bus situation are Rachel Hunter and her 12 year old son Joshua. Living at a Trillick address, although situated closer to Irvinestown, she claimed it was 3pm on Tuesday that she learned from the Education Authority “they were organising a yellow bus, but it would take a few days”.

Joshua, who has moved address to a rural location and was going into second form at Portora Royal School yesterday, Wednesday, was brought to Irvinestown yesterday morning to travel by Ulsterbus.

Rachel said that she had been ringing the E.A. since Monday (of last week) and she claims they told her they were “snowed under because there are that many calls”.

Having made a number of calls to the E.A. on Tuesday of this week, she acknowledged that “she received a very helpful lady who answered all her queries.” But she feels it is “a bad situation having to wait until Tuesday to hear”.

“Not knowing” was very difficult for Rachel, who describes it as ‘a downright disgrace’ with ‘children literally being left in limbo.’ In particular, she refers to first years moving school and not knowing where they have to be.

She also pointed out that a friend was told to put her daughter on an Ulsterbus. “She got a letter - no times, no nothing on it!” claimed Rachel, adding there was “no information whatsoever”.

Councillor Raymond Farrell, speaking about bus passes on Tuesday, commented: “This situation has left a lot of people in limbo and a state of confusion either because some children have no official pass, confusion over which bus to use as well as pick-up and drop of points.” He added: “I have written to the local Education office to express parents’ frustration and to get a sense of when this can be sorted. Starting a new school in particular can be stressful enough for a family without any added complications. I certainly hope young people in particular got to and from school on their first day without any added anxieties.” Councillor David Mahon has also been dealing with families on the issue of school bus provision.

He noted some of the issues concerning parents were ‘how their children were going to be travelling on different buses’ being Ulsterbus and the WELB bus. He stated that “an older sibling had been travelling for a few years on Ulsterbus and now the younger sibling who had assumed they would be travelling on the same bus was allocated the WELB bus, this girl was very concerned and a real fear was present for her and her parents.” He pointed out that another “unbelievable point” was one of the bus stop areas, which was selected for a child. It was “miles away from their home,” he said, even though there currently were “many more closer stops. How can this be?

“The clear lack of information provided to families is outrageous, even when families tried to make contact to make their feelings known, the phones lines were jammed up and even when responses were promised they never came.” An Education Authority spokesperson, said: “The Education Authority makes every effort to inform all parents of school transport arrangements in advance of the new school term. In anticipation of the increased volume of transport related queries at the beginning of a school year the Education Authority puts in place additional resources to deal with any queries parents might have.

“Parents are encouraged to contact the Education Authority Western region office directly for further information.”