Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Education and Skills made some ten exceptions this year on school transport, including one in my constituency for which I lobbied. The problem is, however, that there are other people in my constituency who could not avail of these exceptions. Their applications had failed last year and they did not know they should apply for the exception. I have discussed this matter quite a lot with Deputies Michael Collins, Murphy O'Mahony and Aylward, and it has been raised previously in the Dáil. Other areas have had all sorts of problems with school transport but they did not get exceptions this year. The Government would not have a leg to stand on if this matter were brought to the Ombudsman. The rules were bent for some, correctly, but while the rules were changed and money was allocated for certain students, this was not done for others. Those who failed in their applications last year, including some in my constituency, did not get the opportunity to come back this year because they did not know the rules would be changed this year. The Department is operating on a completely ad hocbasis and the Government would not have a leg to stand on if all the people we represent were to go to the Ombudsman in respect of this matter.

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