THERE have been heated exchanges in State Parliament over children being left on the side of the road during ongoing bus service problems in St George and Sutherland Shire.

During Question Time last week Transport Minister Jo Haylen claimed the Region 10 "disaster" was the fault of the previous Liberal government, who had "awarded contracts based on the lowest price without any apparent concern for the service the community needs, and a reliable service people depend on".

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman hit back, saying, "It is this minister who had her eye off the ball and has done nothing for three months".

In one case reported to the Leader, a seven-yearold pupil at Tharawal Public School, Illawong, had to walk two kilometres to school when a bus did not arrive.

In the afternoon, the school bus took the wrong route, which meant the pupil had to cross busy Old Illawarra Road.

"This reckless behavior is nothing short of a breach of duty of care," her mother said.

Miranda MP Eleni Petinos told of a parent, Amy from Bangor, whose son, seven, was forced to wait over 30 minutes for the school bus.

When Amy called the bus company, there had been no apology. When she asked if the bus would be picking the kids up from school in the afternoon, she was told, "It should, but if it doesn't, call and let me know".

Heathcote MP Maryanne Stuart said earlier that many parents had contacted her to report their children had been stranded at school or a bus stop due to a driver failing to show up.

"These haven't been one offs - they have been regular occurrences," she said.