Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the interaction with the Minister. I would like the language into the future to focus on flexibility and co-operation, as mentioned by the Minister. I hope the slowness that existed in relation to antigen testing, ventilation and the use of HEPA filters will change. That needs to happen.

I wish to follow on from the points made by Deputy O'Sullivan on school bus transport. I accept the concerns that exist currently given the high numbers of cases. I want talk about the issue more generally. We have an issue every year where people who are concessionary do not necessarily have access to school transport. There are anomalies related to where people live. A student may live in the middle of County Louth, for example, and there is not a huge difference between them going to school in Dunleer, Ardee, Drogheda or Dundalk, but they may just miss out. There are anomalies at the minute. I have spoken to the Minister about particular cases recently. We have heard the Taoiseach and the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, speak about the need for the system to be able to deliver on climate change, as opposed to putting kids into cars when buses go on the same route. We need a sensible interim solution and a long-term solution. The issue is a farce we all become involved in every year.