Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this subject. It is one of real concern, particularly for those parents and children who were expecting to be able to get concessionary tickets but are unable to do so. I listened intently to the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, speaking on a television programme last night about some parts of the details she spoke about in the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. It is important for us to reflect on the fact that we have seen a 24% increase in the number of entitled students going on buses, which is a good news story. We have also seen a 27% increase in concessionary arrangements. The Minister is seeking to discuss with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath - and I will be supportive of her in doing so - the possibility of ensuring we can help others who may not have been able to afford this service for a variety of different circumstances. The wider issue here is in the context of review and reform. As it happens, I had a meeting with the members of the board of Bus Éireann last week. My sense of where we may, should and will consider going is in the direction of exploring how we can integrate our school bus transport system into our other public transport systems in rural Ireland. I refer to how we can develop the two strands together in complementary ways.

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