Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)

The good news is that at the moment we have 20 pupils, double Bus Éireann's requirement. There is potentially another 12 students so 32 students could avail of this. These students are residing in Kildare town, some of them less than 500 yards away from the site of the very welcome, proposed new school that will be built over the next two to three years. That will accommodate 1,000 pupils. At the moment, almost 300 students are attending the Curragh Community College. I take on board what the Minister of State has said and I will reach out to the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, again.

We have the names. Some of the pupils and families are into their second or third year of trying to get this bus service. The numbers seem to suggest they have enough to request a bus under the guidelines the Minister of State referred to tonight and which I received previously from Bus Éireann. I hope common sense will prevail. This is an interim, short-term measure. We will prevent a number of cars travelling those 6 km if we can put on a school bus for those potentially 30 students. I will contact the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, again to ask him to reconsider. I will provide the names and everything the Minister of State has given me tonight. I ask the Minister of State to have a word with the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, to say exactly as I have said tonight, that this is a distinct possibility. I agree with the Minister of State that this is a special case. I have spoken before about special school buses. It is a yearly topic for me but this needs to happen for many people who will enjoy a purpose-built school less than 500 yards from their homes but it will not happen for two to three years. I hope the Department sees sense and provides that school transport.

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