Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Schools are encouraged to reuse books. They are fantastic at doing that, and great at reusing resources. Part of the funding is being provided for this. Schools have shown great ability to do it in the past. I have no reason to doubt they will be able to do it in future. I also appreciate that teachers supplement what is happening in the textbook in a variety of ways. They will be positive towards reusing the textbooks.

The Deputy is very engaged in the school transport issue. As he said, we should get bang for our buck. The school transport review has examined every element, for example, the current criteria and our climate and environmental obligations. It is an impressive body of work and is to the credit of everyone who engaged in it. A large number of parents and students engaged, as did those currently using the service, others who would like to use it and the providers. It is a significant body of work that will make for an interesting pathway forward. It will go to a pre-Cabinet meeting, then the Cabinet and ultimately be published. Depending on what is agreed, it will demand significant resources to make it a reality.

Regarding the €3 million for enhanced cleaning of school buses, that payment was made from January to Easter of last year during Covid. It is no longer in play.