Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will raise the issue of school transport and the school transport scheme for rural schools in particular. Last year, there was a terrible situation where some children did not get a seat on the school bus until Christmas or after it. There has been a review and the interim report arising from it was published in the last three or four weeks. It has recommended that post-primary or secondary schools can look to the second nearest school. That needs to be extended to primary schools as well. We need clarity around all of that.

The portal where families can pay for the bus ticket is now open. It is closing at the end of July and I understand that will be a very firm closure. If people are late in paying, unlike other times in the past, they will not get a seat on the school bus. We need clarity on what exactly will be in place and how the scheme can be expanded to be inclusive. It should not be something that is about denying people a service, which has been the experience up to now, but trying to provide one. I welcome the review and I hope it will be published in time to provide people with an adequate service this year.

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