Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the points he raised. On some of them, for example the 70 years of age rule, that is something that is across the public sector and not unique to this operation here.

In many of the issues he raises, this requires a wide and all-encompassing review of the system to ensure it is serving the students and their families. This year we introduced the eligibility for students who were not necessarily attending their nearest school but their second-nearest school. We have done that because there is an acknowledgement that there is a difficulty for students for a variety of reasons, in terms of accessing their second-nearest school. There is a broader context here as well. We are looking at efficiencies in terms of travel, in terms of utilising the transport service and making it as readily available as possible so that it is freeing up families in terms of the commitment of taking children to school.

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