Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I came here to listen to this debate because Deputies Aylward and I have tabled questions on school transport as part of the Topical Issue debate. I hope that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport will turn up for the Topical Issue debate.

I believe that the scheme is broken, as other members have said. The scheme cost €190 million and there has been an increase of €27 million. Is this a demand-led scheme or not? I would like clarification on that matter. Did the introduction of transition year generate opportunities?

Finally, but not least, is the issue of demographics and special needs. Like the Chair, I was a schoolteacher and I taught for 35 years. The Chair has said that there is a communication problem and everybody seated around this table has said the same. It must be possible to plan long in advance, particularly the transition from primary to secondary school in terms of where parents send their children, and it should not be a stop-go situation. What degree of planning takes place? We all know which children will need special needs assistance. As a primary schoolteacher, I knew who needed special needs assistance, certainly years before the bus transport scheme would come onstream. Is there a planning issue in terms of readjusting the dates? I am sorry that like Deputy Thomas Byrne I cannot wait for the answers. I came here to listen to what others had to say. I hope that the Minister will get the necessary resources, particularly if they are required, because it is clear the sum of €190 million is not sufficient to run the scheme.