Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That was the initial information we were given. I do not want to be too parochial about it, but I wish to ask a question. There are 21 children concerned here. If Ms Conduit can come back to me with the name and phone number of the contact person in the school transport section in Tullamore, that would be helpful.

I wish to address the assistant secretaries here. I am favour of people working from home. I think it is a good thing for a whole lot of reasons. However, if somebody who has to be available to take a phone call cannot take a phone call at home, then he or she cannot work from home. There cannot be a system like that. There is not an answering service and one cannot leave a voicemail. The whole thing is completely circled. There is a wall that one cannot get through. That is deeply frustrating. We have parents, boards of management and principals coming to us and asking if we can get in contact with somebody. That is a crazy situation and it cannot be tolerated. It is not acceptable. There is close to €9 billion going into the Department every year and if there cannot be somebody to answer a phone in the school transport section, it is totally unacceptable. It is an issue that needs to be addressed.

There are people in the Department who are able to take phone calls and are accessible, whether it is for school principals or a local Deputy or Minister. I just want to make that point; I do not want to labour it.

Now we will have a second round of questions. Mr. O’Leary wishes to respond before the second round begins.