Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the introduction of the school transport waiver. It has helped low-income families. However, the capacity of school transport should have been increased in tandem with the waiver because it has led to a situation where many children are without a bus seat. I have been informed by parents that some of these children had been using school transport for the previous four or five years.

One parents' group based in Emo, County Laois, has serious concerns about the existing issues. For example, I am told there are eight empty seats on the route from New Inn and Emo to Scoil Críost Rí and St. Mary's Christian Brothers School in Portlaoise but five children who had concessionary tickets for the past five years are without seats. I would be grateful if the Minister would look into that issue as I am sure it can be resolved quickly, given that there are eight empty seats.

The school bus service from Emo to Mountmellick Community School needs to be re-established. No service has operated since 2016 and it is my understanding that 19 children are eligible under the existing Bus Éireann scheme. This service must be urgently reinstated. We can resolve lots of issues that went wrong with school transport this year. We have problems with it every year. I raised these issues with previous Ministers for Education. To be fair, the Minister has tried to alleviate hardship on families by bringing in the waiver. Again, however, capacity is the real problem, as it has been for a number of years. I would greatly appreciate if the Minister would look into the two issues in Laois that I highlighted.