School bus row causes further disruption

There was further disruption for children trying to get to school today when private school bus operators did not run in certain areas of the country as part of a dispute between Bus Éireann and the operators.

Nearly half of the private operators in Sligo and Leitrim - 24 out of 57 - did not run and one school in Gort, Co Galway, was also affected.

The operators are looking for 15 per cent increase on the rate paid by Bus Éireann for school runs. A spokeswoman for the company said a 15 per cent rate increase was "not sustainable".

Bus Éireann said that 1,200 operators throughout the country accepted the 4.5 per cent increase recommended by the Department on Education.

The operators in Sligo and Leitrim are not expected to run their service tomorrow, but Bus Éireann said it expects the service to return on Monday.