Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To be clear, the process is that all children who are eligible and complete the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services for the 2021-2022 school year. Children who are not eligible may apply for school transport on a concessionary basis. If seats are available, even where capacity is at 50%, they will be made available on a concessionary basis.

I want to be clear, as we look back on what we have achieved in education and forward to what we will do in future, that everything we have done has been, and will be, on the basis of the public health advice that is made available to us. As we began this school year, the advice was that, at second level, school transport would have to operate at 50% capacity. Things are looking much more positive for society in general in terms of how we are progressing. We are hopeful that the reduced capacity on school transport may no longer be required in due course, but I cannot say it will be so. We will operate on the basis of the available public health advice.

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