Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As Senator Dolan said, we seem to have loads of reviews but they are all positive because they are all bodies of work that really need to be done.

In terms of school transport, this committee knows well, as I know, the importance of ensuring we have maximum number of access points for students. There is a huge body of work here, similar to anti-bullying. There were thousands of engagements with parents, students and guardians who currently avail of the service and from those who do not avail of the service, from bus and transport providers and a whole variety of individuals. That is currently being worked through. I want to be honest and say the work of that particular group has been impacted by Covid-19 and most especially by issues in Ukraine and the additional demands placed on this particular section within the Department. We are continuing to work through it and will work as speedily as we can.

On the additional funding, this time last year approximately 103,000 tickets were made available to those who met the criteria. Again, there was a lot of conversation around the criteria. The waiving of the school transport fees was for those who met the eligibility criteria. Last year that would have been 103,000 but this year 126,000 students are availing of that because they met the criteria. There is an issue, as the Chair said, around those who are concessionary. The concessionary issue has always been with us and in previous years when there were extra seats available, people got a ticket even though they did not meet the criteria. They got a ticket because there were a spare seats on the bus. This year there has been a 28% increase in the number of concessionaries who have gotten tickets. They do not meet the criteria but there are extra seats available, so they got a seat. There was an 18% increase in those who were eligible and who got tickets. I am very conscious that there are those who were concessionaries and in receipt of concessionary tickets previously. That has been a major cause of concern here and for everybody. Those who were in receipt of tickets and who applied on time are the students we are now seeking to accommodate on foot of the additional funding that has been made available in the budget.

Again, I wish to be honest. There are issues around sourcing additional buses or drivers but we are working through them. The first priority is those in receipt of concessionary tickets last year who applied on time.