Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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First, I thank all the witnesses for their presentations. I wish to raise a number of issues. The meeting is running late and I would appreciate if the witnesses could respond to me in writing because I must attend another meeting at 6 p.m.

Is there a national policy for the way concessionary tickets are allocated? Is it done by lottery or is it based on the first people to pay? How does the system work? It seems to be different in different areas.

I also made a submission to the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, but unfortunately some of the issues we raised with him have not been addressed. I wish to raise two schools with the witnesses and I will be as brief as I can. One is in Blacklion in County Cavan where the children travel to St. Clare’s comprehensive school in Manorhamilton. The journey is about 14 km from their home to the school.

It is approximately 14 km from the home to the school. There was a review done in 2013 and the children were eligible at the time to go to the school. I am sure we all have children doing exams or in exam years and the children in this case will be moved 29.5 km, from the school they are in to another school. That is because of the new way the Department is measuring the distance from home to school. Some of these measurements are across boggy and mountain roads that cannot really be traversed by a big school bus. There is not a hope that could happen. Nevertheless, these people are being deprived of the bus that the family has availed of for years to bring the children to St. Clare's Comprehensive School. It is desperately wrong to move children who are in exam years out of a school. They are being moved 29.5 km to another school where they know absolutely nobody and they have no connection with it in terms of sports, football etc. It is very wrong and the matter should be considered. It should be recognised that the school transport scheme has done a fantastic job as 116,000 children were transported to school last year. It has operated over 50 years and given people an opportunity they would never have had to improve their lives and position. It has helped their families as well, which should be recognised.

There is a school in Bunninadden in County Sligo that happens to be at the end of one catchment area and the beginning of another. It is probably just outside the catchment of St. Attracta's college in Tubbercurry but it is in the catchment of Coláiste Muire in Ballymote. There is a bus that collects children who want to go to the school. As it happens, in the national school this year there are five pupils going one way and five going the other way. The second bus, which goes to St. Attracta's college, comes into the village of Bunninadden so people can be collected safely. We are talking about country and rural roads, some of which are very busy. That bus is under threat but it should not be. The pupils are being collected from the catchment area but the bus comes to the village, where it is safe to collect children and for parents to park etc. That example should be examined. I do not see why the second bus should be under threat as it is now.

I will finish with that as it has been a long meeting. I would appreciate a response on the queries I have raised as soon as possible. I thank the witnesses. I am sorry I must go to another meeting that started at 6 p.m.