Rising fuel prices are threatening to close down private bus operators, leaving thousands of Galway schoolchildren with no way of getting to school.

That's according to Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, who told the Galway Independent she has been contacted by bus operators who are frustrated at having to take the hit from the fuel price crisis.

However, a Bus Eireann spokesman has said this is not correct and that the majority of contracts have been signed.

"I have been contacted by private bus operators, contracted by Bus Eireann, who say it is not feasible to run their school buses at the current contract price. Bus Eireann have told them that despite the obvious fuel increases and the removal of the fuel rebate come October that they will receive zero increase for the school runs in the coming year. Yet school bus tickets have taken an increase and this is not being passed onto the bus operator who is incurring the cost," explained Senator Healy Eames.

One Galway bus operator said, "it will not be feasible to run my buses bearing in mind the additional costs we incurred implementing the new safety regulations in recent years, the update of my fleet, along with the new increase in diesel. It is just not possible. I will not sign the contract with Bus Eireann if there is no increase to match the rise in fuel. Furthermore, due to an EU directive we will also be losing the fuel rebate come October. All in all it won't pay me to run the bus and my runs alone will affect 325 children."

Senator Healy Eames said that this had been the feeling of bus operators she spoke to nationwide, with 1600 private bus routes being affected if contracts are not signed.

"Overall they provide 80 per cent of all school transport. In Galway there are over 100 bus routes involved and thousands of school children at primary and second-level will be affected," she said.

The Oranmore-based Senator called on Bus Eireann to have talks with the operators in order to reach "a realistic agreement" to maintain a quality bus service for children in the area.

"I would ask that this occur immediately so parents and children aren't left wondering if they have school transport til the eleventh hour. I don't want to see a repeat of the instance of children being left on the side of the road without school bus transport as we had in previous years," said Senator Fidelma Healy Eames.

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