Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A review of the school transport scheme was announced in February 2021. After examining eligibility criteria phase 1 was completed in June 2021 and resulted in temporary alleviation measures for post-primary students attending their second nearest school. These remain in place. Phase 2 of that review was completed late last year. Phase 3 and the final report have not been published and no date has been indicated as to when it will be published. This simply is not good enough. It is vital that the service is expanded significantly so that every pupil who wants to avail of school transport can do so. After the shambles the Government made of school transport last year, which saw concessionary and eligible students left without a seat on the bus, the Tánaiste knows the impact this had on families across the country. Why has he not ensured that this review, which has been ongoing for almost two and a half years, is concluded, brought to Government and the recommendations published?

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