Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. It is important to say, and the Senator referenced it, that there are 124,000 children and their families benefiting from this system.

It is a cost-of-living measure, which delivers a saving of up to €650. I acknowledge that concessionary tickets have always been a challenge. That is one of the reasons, though not the only one, that we are carrying out a root-and-branch review of school transport. I am fully cognisant of that.

As regards the opportunity to introduce a fee, this was a cost-of-living measure. It is very difficult to constitute a reasonable fee that would not place an additional burden on families. Every single family has been impacted by the cost of living. The opportunity to waive the fees presented and that has been welcomed by the 124,000 ticket holders who are benefiting from the measure, notwithstanding some of the discussions.

As regards the review and what it will entail, with regard to spare seat capacity, Bus Éireann operates at full capacity. It is not possible to get inside the minds of parents to find out what decision they will make on a Monday as opposed to a Friday on whether their child will travel on the school bus. Those who are eligible receive the ticket. Recommendations on opportunities to do things differently will form part of the review. As I previously stated to Deputy O'Sullivan, we are looking at completing that review as early as possible.

On the plus side, I can say that the number of children taking up school transport tickets has increased by 21% this year. Concessionary tickets have increased by one third, which should not be forgotten, and many concessionary ticket holders are being facilitated on school buses. A cohort of students falls outside the eligibility loop. I am in discussions in the context of the budget to see what we can do for those individuals and we will continue to work on that between now and next Tuesday.