‘Bus pass problem’ advice for Strabane students attending NW Regional College in Derry

Strabane Sinn Féin Glenelly Councillor Michelle Mc Mackin says that local students attending courses at North West Regional College in Derry who have been experiencing delays in obtaining their bus passes should ensure that they hold on to the bus tickets that they have already paid for, since the start of term, to secure a refund.

She says,

“I have been contacted by parents of local students attending courses at the North West Regional College in Derry who, because of delays in their children obtaining bus passes, have had to fork out £7.40 a day to cover the cost of the return journey.  Obviously, few parents can ill-afford this major outlay especially in the current economic climate.

“As a result of these representations from parents, I have been in contact with officials from Translink, the Western Education & Library Board and the College itself in an effort to resolve the delays in the issuing of bus passes to students and to query about the issue of refund for the outlay.

“Through these contacts, I have been able to establish that the problem has partially arisen due to a change in policy by Translink.  Up until two years ago, bus drivers were able to accept ‘temporary bus passes’ issued by the College for the entire month of September and previously this had allowed time for the College to process all bus pass applications through the WELB.  Last year, Translink cut this waiver period to just two weeks but this year it has completely withdrawn the waiver period altogether. So students are having to pay cash until they receive their bus passes.

"While College and WELB officials acknowledge that there has been a substantial increase in the number of applications this year, they are stating that there is no undue delay in the processing of these applications but also advised that many students may be unaware that their bus passes may be already available for collection at the collection at the College reception. So I would urge all students who have not already received their bus passes to check on a daily basis.

“I have also been assured that students who have had to pay for their journeys up until they receive their bus pass will qualify for this outlay to be refunded by securing a ‘Refund Form’ from the College Reception but will need to retain their bus tickets as proof of journey to send along with this form to Translink."