Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is a fair point. We put in place those measures to make a much needed, and I believe much valued, contribution to families at a time in which the cost of living and the increase in the cost of living was so urgent and causing such hardship. I am aware from Deputies on these benches of the anomaly to which Deputy Canney refers and also of the frustration that many families and pupils felt when they saw school buses go by that were empty and had empty seats on them. This is of course a matter that will be considered in the context of the review that is under way on school transport.

I understand that review had three different phases, because a lot of data needed to be gathered in relation to this and a lot of consultation needed to take place, but I understand it is going to be completed shortly. The final phase of the report is now being carried out and I am sure it will be shared with the Government very shortly.

I will conclude with two points in relation to it. The first one is again to encourage all families who are eligible for school transport under the current system to put in their application so they do not find themselves in difficulty a little later in the year because the application has not gone in.

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