Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My initial point is that there has been extensive engagement on this, but the Minister is the only Minister who has delivered on the review, which has been promised on numerous occasions by successive Governments. It is great to see it being finally brought to Cabinet. I commend the Minister on that. She said it would be brought through the various stages by the end of quarter 1. Will she clarify whether the changes proposed will take effect when the portal opens, which typically happens in April? Will whatever recommendations that are made take effect with the opening of that portal? I reiterate my call, which I have made dozens of times at this stage, for some flexibility to be built into the system, especially in the areas of Carrignavar, Glenville, Watergrasshill and those villages that face a geographical challenge in terms of proximity to schools.

10 o’clock

Could some flexibility be built into Bus Éireann to allow it to make some discretionary cases where there is a demand for the service?

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