THE Department of Education and Children has said it sympathises with parents who may be affected by the planned bus strikes next week.

A number of the Island's bus drivers are planning to strike on Tynwald Day and Wednesday, July 6, over changes to their terms and conditions.

The department has said that while schools will remain open as normal, pupils may have to make their own way to the school gates.

A spokesperson for the department said: "The Department of Education and Children doesn't arrange transportation to and from school. This is within the remit of Bus Vannin.

"Around 3,000 students (mostly secondary), out of a school population of 12,237, travel to and from school by Bus Vannin school buses each day.

"We sympathise with parents over the inconvenience any industrial action will cause them and we hope the fact that the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure has given a week's notice of possible disruption to services will allow them to make alternative arrangements if their children usually travel to school by school bus."

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Also see: Bus drivers threaten strike action on Tynwald Day