Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State's commitment. This should be strictly enforced. The Minister of State mentioned that school transport costs €1 million per day and that his Department must save more than €70 million over a four year period. A considerable amount of that €70 million could be achieved by practical measures. I have previously tabled questions to the Minister of State in regard to co-ordination of school, rural and HSE transport. All of those practical initiatives must be implemented and maximised at a time when there are particular pressures on the school transport budget.

See this speech in context