Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the first instance, the criteria are that students are 3.2 km from the primary school and 4.8 km from the post-primary school or next nearest post-primary school. I am not familiar with the individual case that the Senator is raising, but if the students meets those criteria, they will be catered for. If she wishes to raise specific instances with me she can come back to me, and I will look at them as I cannot look at the specific case mentioned as I am a not familiar with it. Those are the criteria and where students have met those criteria, they are being provided for with the fee waiver this year.

Specifically, in respect of Ukraine and the provision for children who are arriving from there, they are also being accommodated with transport being provided for them.

On the Senator’s reference to more buses being put in place, there has been a 21% increase in capacity this year already. I return to the issue around concessionary tickets, but as part of the entire school transport review, the entire eligibility factor is being looked at. It is not accurate to say that those who are entitled to a bus place have not received one but the issue is in respect of those who do not meet the eligibility criteria and we are addressing that now.