Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To be clear, there are eligibility criteria. Pupils who live 3.2 km from their nearest primary school or 4.8 km from their nearest or next nearest post-primary school are eligible. In relation to one child getting a ticket and the other sibling not getting one, if both children are eligible, both will get a ticket. However, if they are not eligible, concessionary tickets are provided by lottery under the present system.

A considerable body of work has been undertaken in relation to the review. This is a demand-led service, which is important. The review involved engagement with our European counterparts, bus providers, parents and guardians of children who are utilising the service and students, as well as with those who are not utilising the system but would like to do so. The work is drawing to a close and will be published shortly. It will give us a pathway forward. I want to be clear that this will demand considerable resources, bearing in mind that what the current system is resourced to the tune of €339 million.

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