Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Ó Cuív referred to Yahoo and the difficulties in that regard. If he has any specific cases where an issue arose, I would appreciate if he could forward the email address to my Department. However, in the main, that is not the only means of communication with parents; there were others. There was public information and the closing dates were advertised. The responsibility rests with individuals applying to be mindful of the application dates. I am happy to hear from the Deputy about specific instances. If he can give me the details, I will have them directly followed up.

In response to Deputy Durkan's point about places being available on buses, I want to be very clear that there is a rigorous analysis of the availability of places. Where it has been necessary to put on larger buses for those who are eligible and for concessionary places, we have done that. I want to be very clear about the availability of places on buses. In some instances, there may be cases where pupils do not travel on a particular day or there are other needs within a family where a child might be sick or whatever the case might be and there will be a free place on that day, but that is not a consistent free place. Where a child or young person is eligible for a ticket, he or she has the ticket.

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