Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have a related question. The programme for Government contains a commitment to examine how best to improve integrated services in the rural bus network for the regions, including school transport. I was very encouraged to hear that an additional €1 million in funding was announced by the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, in mid-August in order to address the issues within the school transport system. Although very little detail was released, I was hopeful that the Minister would focus on children who had used school transport on a concessionary basis but who have been left without transport this year. I wrote to the Minister in August to highlight two very problematic school transport issues in my parish in south Kilkenny that require urgent attention. One of the issues concerns a secondary school and affects 13 children, while the other, which relates to a private school, affects 11 children. Unfortunately, the situation remains the same for these young families whose children do not have access to school transport despite indications that a solution would be found. Will the Tánaiste clarify whether the €1 million has been spent and outline the criteria for the allocation of it? Will the he indicate if any of the money is left to cover problems such as those I have mentioned in Carlow and Kilkenny? I have been reliably told that a small amount of money would sort out the concessionary tickets for those children who have been left on the side of the road. I am told that another €1 million would do it.

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