Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know that school transport does not fall under the Minister's brief but it is a nightmare throughout my constituency in Cork South-West. I am getting calls from frustrated and angry parents from Kinsale to Mizen Head. Coaches and buses are available. Drivers are available because they are not driving tourists around Ireland. Why can those vehicles not be used to transport our children to school?

Fianna Fáil promised changes when it was in opposition but the situation has got worse. I hear of situations of children who have had tickets for bus transport in west Cork for three to four years but those tickets have been withdrawn due to a lottery system that was drawn up by Bus Éireann. The whole thing is a shambles. We, as politicians, are at the front line, trying to clean up a mess that, in most cases, could be sorted out locally between the bus owners, parents and local politicians at no extra cost.

I met representatives from Cork Airport last week and they urgently need to meet the Minister. I am urging him not to stand idly by while airports go out of business. I brought up rapid testing months ago with the then Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, and I have brought it up with the current Government with a view to keeping the airports open. We can surely do that in Ireland without losing our airlines and airports. If we are to open the airports safely, rapid testing is a must. The Government needs to withdraw all Government airport charges in Cork at this time.

Taxi and limousine drivers are suffering extreme stress and anxiety during these Covid-19 times because their incomes have been wiped out. Nonetheless, they have to keep their cars taxed, insured and licensed. They are fearful of cancelling their insurance because they may find it difficult or impossible to get insurance again or a renewal could see their premiums increase. Many drivers are over 66 years of age, working full time and paying income tax but, because of age discrimination, are unable to avail of the pandemic unemployment payment. Significant numbers of drivers have been in the business for 40 years and, having paid exorbitant fees for their taxi plate under the old system, are still bearing a significant financial burden. Regardless of the condition of a taxi, it must be taken off the road once it is ten years old and drivers have to upgrade their cars to keep their licences active. In the current business climate, those cars are predominantly parked up. In these difficult and exceptional times, could that limit be increased from ten to 15 years to ease the financial stress that exists at the moment?

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