John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Would the Minister accept that there will be implications for the schools and numbers in future years? This is being done to achieve savings but over the years Bus Éireann's accounts have shown that it is costing more to transport fewer children. The cost in 2009 was €1,266 per student. In 2010 it cost €1,392 per student and in 2011 the cost was €1,526 per student. There has been a 20% drop in the number of students availing of Bus Éireann transport but the cost has increased. I cannot understand these changes. Families are being split up and the students' sense of place in terms of where they have always gone is being discommoded. This change will not turn around the transport costs. It does not make sense.

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