John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is completely wrong. I made a clear commitment that any eligible child who was entitled to school transport would get it. There are no children who are eligible for school transport who do not get it. The concessionary scheme was set up to deal with eligible children. If places on buses became available because eligible children could not fill them, children in the concessionary scheme could have them. The Department is, to the best of its ability, transporting 25,000 children under the concessionary scheme who would otherwise not be entitled to school transport.

Of course there are faults in the scheme, but the Deputy should remember that I am just seven months in this job, the issue is a major one that affects many people and I am trying to deal with it. Everyone who has needed to meet me has done so. Indeed, many Members of the Deputy's party have met me. Sometimes, we were able to deal successfully with some of the issues that they raised. As Minister of State, however, I am bound by rules, regulations, legislation and financial wherewithal. To the best of my ability, I try to ensure that no children - concessionary or eligible - lose their positions on school transport.

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