Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The fact we raise this problem every year like Groundhog Day is unacceptable. I have been here since 2016 and every year without fail. it has come up. It is ridiculous. In a reply to a parliamentary question I put down recently, the Minister for Education stated that Bus Éireann had reported "a small number of families assigned to school transport services [were impacted and] a number of difficulties have arisen in some localities with just under 2% of contracted services nationally affecting less then 1.25% of those pupils". I seek a breakdown of how Bus Éireann arrived at that figure. I believe that far more than 1.25% of pupils are affected by this issue. All we have to do is look at the number of Deputies who came in to raise it here today. The issue is prevalent. During the summer, I spent my time trying to deal with many cases of school transport. I have seven pupils in Croghan, north Offaly, without school transport. I understand that during the pandemic, a way was found to run two buses in the same area but now the goodwill is not there when these kids are stuck. There is no public transport. It is causing the pupils and their families unnecessary distress. I ask for that situation to be sorted out as soon as possible.

I sent several emails to the Minister and to Bus Éireann. All I have got back is an acknowledgement and it is not good enough. If a way was found to get two buses into that little area during the pandemic, why can a way not be found now to get the same two in? It is just not on. We have a farcical situation here. There is time being wasted in the Dáil every year when the same issue arises. I am asking for answers. This is entirely foreseeable. If there was forward planning, forward thinking and common sense, we would not be at this situation and we would not be debating this issue again here today.

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