Meetings

The Committee considered the petition and noted that it was an issue of funding and was the responsibility of schools and local government to work together on safe routes to school. Members were sympathetic of the issues for children who had to travel long distances in poor conditions and noted that significant activity has taken place in relation to learner travel since the petition was first considered in April 2022, including reports from Welsh Government and a Senedd Committee.

The Committee noted that work on bus transport for under 18s was ongoing and that the Bus Services (Wales) Bill would be passing through the Senedd. The Chair agreed to highlight this petition and other relevant petitions in the upcoming debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee’s report. In light of this, and the response to the Committee’s inquiry recommendations regarding ongoing work, the Committee agreed to close the petition.

The Committee discussed the evidence heard and agreed that it would hold a one-day round table discussion in the new year with relevant stakeholders regarding bus services.

The Committee heard evidence from Ffion Fairclough WYPM - Member of the Senedd's Welsh Youth Parliament for Pontypridd, Kasia Tomsa WYPM - Member of the Senedd's Welsh Youth Parliament for Blaenau Gwent, Elin Hargrave - Senedd Education and Youth Engagement Officer and Bethan Roberts - Senedd Education and Youth Engagement Officer.

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to keep a watching brief on the petition, pending the Welsh Government review into this issue.