Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach may be aware that in many counties, predominantly rural ones, school transport remains a very vexed issue. There are particular issues with trying to secure concessionary bus passes with children. There are numerous families - I am dealing with over a dozen of them - whose children are eligible for transport but cannot get on the school bus. In many instances, this is because the parents were late in getting their payment in before the 4 August deadline. I know of some parents who were aware of the deadline but simply did not have the money in the week in question as they were buying school books, uniforms and the rest of it. There are also issues with many bus drivers who are concerned we have not been moving quickly enough to the new regime. They are fearful about the arrangements that are in place.

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