“Shocking” that 14 counties have no provider of student leap cards says Farrell

Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell has said it is “shocking” that only 53% of counties have a provider of student leap cards.

Through information received from a parliamentary question, it was revealed that over half of the counties in the State had no provider of student leap cards.

For the counties that did, this was generally provided through a student union or, in some cases, a private agent.

Deputy Farrell stated that at times when students are having to commute longer and longer distances, the fact a significant number have to travel to another country just to receive this card seems ridiculous.

“There is a serious lack of coverage when it comes to the provision of these cards,” the Sinn Féin TD said.

“There are multiple counties in every province where the card cannot be printed off at all. Students in counties outside of Dublin are being told to travel there just to pick up there card.

“Counties with no provider at all include: Cavan, Clare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow.”

Deputy Farrell said that the fact that in some of these counties there is already a third level institution which could offer the service, or multiple post offices which could presumably do the same.

“The problem is for this government that students are often an afterthought. This is something that could be fixed fairly quickly it the Minister had a mind to.

“There’s no shortage of providers in large urban centres like Dublin, but for rural Ireland it’s a very different story.”

She said that all of this leaves a very bitter taste in the mouth of young people.

“So when graduation day finally comes, they feel like this government and its predecessors have shown them to the door. Decades ago, the saying was ‘get the boat’. Today it seems to be a case of ‘book a flight’.”