Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair. There was a joint Commencement matter in the Seanad last week and this evening we have a Fine Gael motion on school transport. We are calling for an additional budget to manage the shortfall in respect of students. There are more than 6,000 students and behind each application there is a family with a story to tell. The Minister has had a fantastic initiative to reduce the cost of living but I refer to the process alone - the rollover of applications, parents paying for tickets, refunds being given and suddenly no spaces available. Everyone now knows what concessionary and eligible mean but there was a level of expectation among parents whose children have had that ticket for the last four to five years. There was not proper notification to families and that is a responsibility that lies with Government. There is a level of expectation, and that is one of the key parts to everything that has happened this year.

Rural areas, in particular, have been impacted, including in Galway and Roscommon. We want to see more families living in the west but we need the services. There are have huge issues for families whose children have been trying to get to secondary schools, particularly around Mountbellew, Ballygar, Athlone and Ballinasloe. The Minister has heard some of the stories, but some of the stories I hear include one where a mother literally gave up work nursing in a hospital because she could not go to work because she had to bring the kids to school. There is family facing an extra 60 km per day in travel to bring the kids to school. There is a single mum with three children, one getting the bus, one who cannot, and one with special needs. There are parents who do not want their children on the bus because of the shame of the children being asked to get off the bus by the inspector or the bus driver.

The majority of these issues are at post-primary level. It does not appear to be an issue at primary level but it is at post-primary level and in rural areas. I have been at public meetings and I have spoken to the Minister about those issues. Parents are angry and frustrated.

What is the extra cost for the additional 6,000 students? The Minister mentioned on "Prime Time" last night that more than €300 million has been spent. Is the budget going to be allocated? Is it coming from the budget that is happening next week? What are we going to do about those families who children need to get to school?

I am dealing with issues where the nearest or next nearest school is at maximum capacity. If that school is at maximum capacity, what can be done for those children to get them to their P3 school? What are we saying to parents where there is no existing bus route or service? There are areas in east Galway where there is no bus service for anyone. What is going to be done for parents where there is no existing bus route to their P1 or P2 schools?

We are working with Bus Éireann through the Department of Education. What can be done here to improve the public bus transport services in those areas? What else can Bus Éireann do because it is not the fault of the bus drivers or the inspectors? This plan that was put in place is a fantastic initiative and, as the Minister said, there has been an increase, but we have left 6,000 students standing on the side of the road. Hopefully, there will be solutions in place. I thank the Minister.