Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On the same issue, the 2017 targets aim for fewer children to be provided with school transport services in terms of numbers and percentages. This is despite an increase in the overall student population. The figures also show a target for a reduction of 250 routes compared with 2015 figures with the relevant funding remaining the same. Can the Minister of State elaborate on the policy decisions behind this and on how he intends to implement it? Significant numbers of children are on concessionary transport each year and this number is growing. It appears that the only means by which these targets can be met is if the students currently availing of school transport are refused. I am aware of situations where this has happened. I would be grateful if the Minister of State could outline his rationale for the figures and his plan for dealing with this issue in the future.