Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is true although neither of us is practising at present.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important Topical Issue matter. He will appreciate that I am taking this today on behalf of the Minister for Education. Transport is not directly under my remit. The Deputy is quite correct, however. A review is ongoing at the moment. I understand that recommendations will be coming shortly from the steering group, which will examine issues such as the effectiveness of the scheme, sustainability, climate action, rural development and all other important pertinent issues.

Approximately 121,400 children avail of the school transport scheme on an annual basis, of whom 15,500 are children with additional needs, which obviously falls under my remit, at a cost of €289 million in total. I understand that in the areas the Deputy mentioned, approximately 292 children avail of the particular services he outlined. I acknowledge what he said about Carrigtwohill and Midleton being separate and distinct post-primary centres. I understand they are 9 km from each other. The Deputy knows County Cork better than me

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