Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

He might skip the preamble when responding to my next question. I refer to the plan for getting students to school. A number of parents and community groups have contacted me about rural transport, including the operators of school transport. The Department of Education and Skills will provide 50% of contract costs to the private operators from 29 March. In terms of ensuring that schools can reopen in September, will there be a comprehensive school transport system because within weeks, the normal allocation of tickets would be given? Has the Minister or the Department of Education and Skills had any discussions with the rural transport systems to ensure that there will be, operating the rules of social distancing, a rural school transport system in operation in time for our schools to resume in September?

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