Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

Having visited quite a number of schools and met with those working in the school completion programme, I think the work they do is invaluable, if not often seen or heard. For many children, the only reason they are still in school or are coming into school is these individuals, who have a very focused and targeted approach. My approach is that we need more of them, and that is something that I have to work towards with the budgetary process. Regarding under-sixes, again, that is based on what I have heard from the school completion programme leaders and members, who tell me there are children in junior infants who miss 50 or 60 days. They do not come under the date or age profile. We need to work to bring forward legislative change as soon as possible.

In respect of transport, there are two elements to it, one of which is not in my Department but is really important for the urban areas, namely, the safe routes to school programme, which is now in 400 schools. This has seen a change in people's patterns and we need to focus on that still. The programme has recorded a 36% increase in cycling and a 100% increase in park and stride, as well as an increase in walking and a decrease in car use. On top of that, there is a commitment to increase the number of users of school transport by 100,000 students. Currently, school transport is used by 173,000 students. We have to work through how we get to that point.