Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Before we bring in the non-members of the committee, I know Senator Flynn still has to come in. I also have some questions myself. The school transport issue has dominated the headlines both locally and nationally for the month of August and into September. Every town's secondary school has been greatly affected and the students thereby. It is definitely not an isolated incident. It has left both pupils and especially parents with huge upset and frustration and has put stress on a large number of families. I felt sorry for students starting secondary school. There is a large amount of anecdotal evidence but I have some real evidence. Following from Senator Malcolm Byrne and perhaps it is a Wexford thing but if something is given for free, it is like finding something in a lucky bag and everyone will be looking for it for free and that is the way that it is. It was a huge mistake not to have some sort of nominal fee charged. I know it was a cost-of-living measure but the Minister has put a huge amount of financial stress on other families.

The Minister talks about climate change but I think it has put additional traffic on the road rather than taking traffic off the road due to parents driving ten, 15 or 20 km round trips every day to bring their children to school where those children had concessionary passes. I have evidence of four pupils who got bus tickets and who have no intention of ever using them. One is in fifth year, another in third year, another in second year and one went into first year. Both parents in each case live in the town. That is happening throughout the country. Because it was free, the parents thought it would be great have the tickets in case they needed them some day. Someday will never come. Their parents have brought them to school for the past five years and will continue to bring them to school. They have blocked off concessionary tickets on the route.

On one route in County Wexford, the bus driver lets everybody on the bus. It is not his job to check who has tickets or to refuse access. Are people who get on that bus with no tickets covered by insurance?