Sinn Féin is proposing scrapping school bus fees inside five years.
The party has produced its latest plan to revamp the School Transport Scheme, which would also see an extra 17,000 pupils on school buses.
This is nearly 10 times the Government commitment of an extra 1,800 places.
The party said this move - which would set an extra 340 buses on the roads - would contribute towards climate action plans as it would take more kids out of private cars.
The plan has been costed at €17million, with €5million of that going on fleet improvement for Bus Eireann’s school buses.
The rest of the increased fund would be paid to private operators who might otherwise see their buses lie idle this autumn with the collapse of the international tour bus industry.
Sinn Féin transport spokesman, Meath TD, Darren O’Rourke, said that parents are desperate to join the scheme and so it has to be expanded.
“The School Transport Scheme is an essential service, catering for 114,000 children daily. “But each year the service is substantially oversubscribed, leaving parents scrambling to arrange transport to school for their children if they do not get a seat on their local bus.
“Sinn Féin are proposing to invest €17million to deliver 17,000 extra places in the next academic year, eliminate fees at a cost of €13.8million over a five-year government term and allocate €5million for the purchase of new school buses next year.
“Our plans would add more buses and routes, reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector, cut back school costs for families, and encourage the use of public transport from a young age.
“Crucially, our plans would provide significantly more seats on the School Transport Scheme, removing the yearly stress for thousands of families trying to secure a seat on their local school bus.
“The transport sector currently accounts for over 20% of our total carbon emissions, so if we are to meet our 2030 and 2050 climate targets, we need targeted actions in this area now.
“Our expanded School Transport Scheme would cater for 131,000 children daily, removing 40,250 car journeys from our roads each day.”
Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Education, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, added: “Every summer, I speak with families who are struggling to meet the costs of returning to school.
“And every summer, the school transport palaver adds significantly to their stress – either they cannot get a seat for their child, or the costs associated with securing a seat will place a crippling financial burden on their family.
“Sinn Féin have long stressed the importance of affordable and accessible school transport for all families.
“It is extremely disappointing that the Government does not share this objective.”
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