Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Some 25 students are using private transport and the Deputy has exhausted all avenues and spoken to Local Link. I will certainly bring that back to the Minister on her behalf. What I have found in my constituency office is that if there are two or three children in a particular area, it is very difficult. However, when there are 25 students, it is easier to deal with that. It is very hard to provide the bus for one or two children, which is not what parents want to hear. However, in this case, there are numerous students. Deputy Cronin is very challenged in north Kildare as well.

The normal eligibility criteria of the scheme still apply and tickets continue to be allocated in line with the criteria that the Deputies know in relation to those who are eligible and those who are concessionary. In line with normal practice, all eligible children who completed the application and ticket registration process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

In addition, pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the school transport system, temporary alleviation measures at post-primary level, which is the second school the Deputy referred to, will be continued for the 2022-2023 school year.

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