Its emerged that private bus operators in Carlow and Kilkenny who work on Bus Éireann contracts aren’t being paid.
Local TD Bobby Aylward says a number of these operators across the two counties have been in contact to say they haven’t even been able to have their invoices processed.
They say this is all down to the industrial action currently underway involving Bus Éireann’s own drivers, which looks set to continue indefinitely.
Deputy Aylward told KCLR news it’s a hugely worrying development especially for smaller operators.
In a statement to KCLR News, Bus Éireann have confirmed that the strike is the reason that 1,300 private bus operators that they use under the School Transport Scheme haven’t been paid.
They say the staff who normally process the accounts in the local transport offices aren’t available.
However, a technical solution is being put in place, which will hopefully see these operators paid next week.