Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister makes the point about formidable cost but there is also a very formidable cost in the large proportion of children travelling to school by car and ensuring the roads are maintained for that purpose. In in the long run there is also the potential cost of the fines Ireland may face for carbon emissions. I note the NTA, in its announcement of free travel for children under the age of five in 2017, stated: "The Authority recognises that the cost of travel with a young family can be expensive and today’s move marks another step towards making sustainable transport a more affordable option for more families." The Minister also referred to the Kids Go Free initiative. Sinn Féin's proposal is consistent with that logic. I agree with what the NTA said but we must ask what steps have been taken since then. How are we building on these initiatives and how will we increase the number of people who use public transport, including young people? This is not simply a question of doing something nice; this is strategic investment. In all of our major cities there is a chicken and egg scenario, whereby people will not take the bus until cars are moved off the road. People will not make the change until traffic is lighter and buses move quicker. This is an immediate initiative that can kick-start that process.

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