Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Following on from Senator Lombard, I recall when I was going to school - and we are probably all in the same situation as there is not a lot of difference between most of us on this side of the fence - we all cycled to school.

Cycling to school was something that we all did and it was very healthy. Nowadays, however, every mammy and daddy drives little Johnny or Mary to school and almost into the classroom. That has created a huge difficulty for schools and for transport. Is there a way round that? If we start with kids of school age, it is an education process. Obviously our roads have got a lot busier, but there must be a way to reverse that. It was not that long ago that we all cycled to school and I do not recall there being many serious accidents; little Johnny and little Mary went to school and came home safe and sound, and they were far healthier for it.