Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The issue of Bus Éireann's school transport service always raises its head at this time of year. Like everyone else around the country, I am hearing about problems with the provision of the service, particularly with regard to concessionary tickets. It causes uproar in rural Ireland at this time of year every year. I know that a report was compiled last year. The Comptroller and Auditor General might comment on this. I wonder whether we have any role to play in this regard. Can we play a role in examining value for money in the system as it is being rolled out at the moment? Could we make any input? Some €195 million in taxpayers' money is being spent on this service every year. I do not think the service is up to scratch. It needs to be reviewed and we should play a role in any such review.