31/08/2026
🚍 Serious concerns have been raised by parents over the loss of the school transport service to Dunseverick Primary School.
I have been contacted by parents regarding this issue, and there is understandable concern and frustration over the decision and the impact it will have on families who rely on the service.
At a time when families are already facing significant financial pressures, particularly those living in rural areas, access to reliable school transport is vital.
We need to ensure that rural communities are not disadvantaged simply because of where they live. Every child should have fair and equal access to education, and I will continue to support local families in making sure their concerns are heard.
Equality of access must prevail for everyone, regardless of where they live.
A Call for Action to Restore School Transport
On 25th August ( 6 days before children were due to return to school) I was informed by the Education Authority (EA) that the EA Yellow Bus service to and from Dunseverick Primary School would no longer be provided, reportedly due to a decline in the number of pupils using the service.
This decision has left many families in our community facing genuine uncertainty about how their children will travel safely to and from school each day. While the EA has confirmed that a private 8-seater taxi will be available for pupils who were eligible for transport last year, this arrangement does not appear to accommodate new families who have recently applied for school transport for children beginning their education with us this year.
As Principal of Dunseverick Primary School, I am deeply concerned about the impact this decision will have on our pupils, families and the wider school community. Access to education should never be determined by a family's ability to arrange transport, particularly in rural areas where alternative options are limited.
This issue extends beyond our school. It raises important questions about equality of access, rural provision and the ability of families to choose the school that best meets the needs of their children. Every child entitled to transport should have reliable and sustainable access to it.
I am therefore appealing to all local political representatives, regardless of party affiliation, to stand alongside our families and support our efforts to have the Yellow Bus service reinstated. We need a united voice advocating for rural families and ensuring that our children are not disadvantaged by decisions that place additional barriers between them and their education.
To discuss this matter and consider the next steps, a public meeting will be held at Dunseverick Primary School on Tuesday 8th September at 7.00 pm. Parents, local representatives and members of the wider community are encouraged to attend and show their support for the restoration of this vital service.
I would also like to appeal to local and regional media outlets to help raise awareness of the challenges facing our families. Media coverage can play a vital role in highlighting the real-life impact of this decision and ensuring that the voices of rural communities are heard. We would welcome the support of journalists and news organisations in bringing this issue to the attention of decision-makers and the wider public.
If any member of the public, local representative, media organisation or stakeholder would like to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at [email protected].
Our families deserve certainty. Our children deserve fair access to education. Together, we call upon the Education Authority and our elected representatives to work with us to secure the return of the Yellow Bus service and ensure that no child is left behind.
Mrs L. Smyth�Principal�Dunseverick Primary Schoo
