Donegal Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has stated that any victory over the long-running school bus debacle in Urris should be attributed to the long campaign by local parents.
He criticised Fianna Fáil TD Charlie McConalogue for “rushing to take all the credit for this victory” in an interview on Highland Radio.
Senator Mac Lochlainn said: “Last week, the Minister for School Transport, John Halligan indicated to me that a solution to the Urris school transport debacle was imminent.
“I have repeatedly personally raised this issue with Minister John Halligan before and since a meeting between myself and Deputy McConalogue with the Minister and his senior department officials, earlier this year, to try and find a resolution.
“I held back on any public comment until formal confirmation was relayed to me and Deputy McConalogue.
“Therefore I was genuinely disappointed at the interview Deputy McConalogue gave to Highland Radio News where he rushed to take all the credit for this victory without acknowledging the work of any other public representative”.
He added: “I am clear however. Whatever about public representatives doing our job. The parents in Urris deserve the real credit for this victory.
“They have long campaigned against the nonsense of Department officials insisting that Mamore Gap is a traversable route all year round for a school bus. I am pleased that common sense has prevailed and I hope that other communities can learn from the campaign of these parents.
“The role of public representatives is to stand with citizens and communities when they campaign against injustice. I am proud to have done just that in this campaign but I won’t be claiming credit for their victory”.
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