Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Children are happy to be back in school. They are back to leading their normal lives with their friends and back to a normal routine. Both their social and developmental needs are being met. Several parents have told me that they have never seen their children more enthusiastic about returning to school, having been away from their normal routine for six months. The work and effort that have gone into preparing schools is a credit to their boards of management and their wonderful teachers and staff. The reorganisation of schools and classrooms has been nothing short of amazing. Teachers did not receive pandemic training in college, but they have been briefed very well and they are doing a phenomenal job at helping to ensure that students are informed and compliant with the guidelines and feel relaxed and comfortable. Above all, they are ensuring that school is a happy place.

I wish to raise a concern around secondary school transport with the Minister. This is a serious issue throughout the country and in my constituency of Tipperary in particular. I understand the Department has allocated an additional €11.3 million to Bus Éireann specifically to provide school transport. However, I may say without fear of contradiction that the company is not upholding its contract to provide such transport. As a result, many students are denied access to buses to secondary school. Bus Éireann needs to get its act together and to get this right as a matter of urgency. Where services between Limerick and Tipperary are concerned, Bus Éireann is not engaging with parents, school principals or bus operators. This lack of communication has led to a total mess. I am asking the Minister to act as quickly as possible to address this crucial issue. I appeal to her to immediately appoint a senior official to tackle this issue and ensure that the €11.3 million allocated to Bus Éireann is used as intended. I ask her to give urgent consideration to availing of the services of private bus operators in this time of need. Our schoolchildren and their parents deserve nothing less.

See this speech in context