Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am aware of the efforts being made to resolve the difficulties in this particular situation that effect both constituencies and that will continue to so do. Whatever has created the problems, there is a need to restore public confidence in the system, particularly because of the various competing issues that confront parents these days having to go out to work and ensuring that their children are accommodated in terms of transport.

I recall one of the most frustrating discussions I ever had with the school transport section. I am sure the Minister of State has had similar conversations. The staff of the section were always able to explain on paper what it meant, but I have seen situations, as, I am sure, has the Minister of State, whereby a route as measured by the transport section was not the same as the route that was taken by the school transport system because of the road conditions. While the same route was taken by parents delivering their children to the particular school involved, using the same road as the transport system and going in the school gate directly behind the relevant bus. To my mind, it is absolutely ridiculous to have a situation like that.

I am asking about the situation in north Kildare generally and particularly around Rathcoffey, Prosperous, Clane, etc., where an extra school bus would make a huge difference. I thought that extra school bus had already been provided. The problem is that if you keep the school buses small enough, there will not be space for everybody. I ask that a special effort be made to increase the capacity of the bus system to accommodate the students and reflect the demand arising from increases in population.

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