Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My understanding on this is quite clear. I am open to correction because the Deputy knows the area very well. All Bus Éireann routes qualify for the "Kids Go Free" scheme, apart from the commercial operation, Bus Éireann Expressway. I do not know if the routes the Deputy was quoting are Bus Éireann's. If they are, perhaps the individuals he is talking about did not have Leap cards. My understanding is quite clear that any Bus Éireann bus qualifies. We can make that clear afterwards. I can discuss it with the Deputy afterwards if he thinks I am wrong, but I do not think so because I asked for this advice before I came into the Chamber to make it absolutely clear. If there is a misunderstanding there, we can clear it up very quickly. It may be that they do not have the Leap cards or the children to whom the Deputy referred are referring to commercial routes. Commercial routes have been asked to participate in this scheme.

I am sympathetic to what the Deputy is saying. If there is some sort of discrimination against children who take certain routes or use certain operators, I could appeal to them. I cannot force them to do so, but I could appeal to them to extend the scheme.

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