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Bus shelters boost for local kids 07.04.07

The days of Inishowen schoolchildren freezing in harsh weather while waiting for a bus could soon be over.
Donegal County Council is to investigate the roll out of sponsored bus shelters with their counterparts in the North.
Sinn Féin’s Donegal North East representative, Cllr. Padraig MacLochlainn, has welcomed the move.
He said: “Sinn Féin had a motion on this issue passed by the Council late last year and we have vigorously pursued measures to increase the number of bus shelters for school children over recent years.
“Our motion called on the local authority to lead up an initiative in partnership with school boards of management and parents committees across the county to identify appropriate locations for bus shelters which are sponsored with advertisements from local businesses."
Cllr. MacLochlainn said young children should not have to suffer discomfort on their way to school in winter.
“It is unacceptable that schoolchildren are continually subjected to harsh weather conditions while they wait outdoors for a bus.
“However, for many years the prospects of increasing the number of bus shelters have been hampered by bureaucratic wrangling over which authority was responsible for them - whether the county council, the bus companies, the schools or whoever.
“Thankfully, the Council has now taken an important lead on this issue, which I’m sure every elected representative could confirm has been raised constantly by parents throughout the county.”
The Buncrana-based town and county councillor said the approach had worked well in the North for many years.
“The pursuit of sponsored bus shelters has the potential to be a sensible community solution to a serious long-term problem.
“I’m pleased Donegal County Council is now implementing Sinn Fein’s request on this issue, and hope that the lessons learned from our counterparts in the Six Counties can soon lead to a significant increase in bus shelters.”

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