Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

At the outset I would like to say that I appreciate the importance of the school transport scheme. I know of its value in many rural areas in particular. It was for that reason we ensured we got the widest spectrum of opinion in terms of how we should operate. That was not just families currently using the system, but families who have not used the system and would like to use it. There were those who engaged with the system from a special education point of view. An analysis of school transport schemes in other jurisdictions was also conducted. This included looking at systems in the EU, the UK, the United States and Australia. The final report and its recommendations on the future operation and strategic development of the scheme will be brought before a Cabinet subcommittee. It will then be brought before Cabinet, and it will only be at that point we will be in a position to say what actions will be determined by Government. However, nobody for one minute underestimates the value and importance of the school transport scheme.

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