John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to cover a few issues in response. I do not set out the routes nor do I designate them. The routes are set by Bus Éireann, as I do not have the capacity to do that. I would remind people there is a rural grant scheme in place for those who are eligible for school transport where a bus may not be available. The issue is very clear. When I took over as Minister of State in the Department of Education and Skills, with school transport being part of my portfolio, my job was to make sure that all eligible children at primary and post-primary level, and all children with special educational needs who are eligible for school transport, get it. Right now this month there is no eligible child, as far as I am aware, anywhere in the country who has paid on time who is not getting school transport or not getting the rural grant. Certainly, there is no child with special educational needs who is not getting school transport. I would not say the scheme is bursting at the seams but we have already invested €200 million this year. We know that next year there will be more eligible children and more children with special educational needs. The money will be made available next year for those children at a major cost again. The number of children with concessionary places prior to my becoming Minister of State was 300 and now the number is 30,000. We carry 26,000 children with concessionary places. Within the scheme, all eligible children and all children with special educational needs are being carried, which is the directive I was given. The legislation lays down that I as Minister of State do that and I am, or my Department is, doing that.

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