Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)

I spoke in jest about the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, taking on the brief of school transport. He is very experienced in this. He has been around the block, was a backbencher for a while and battled in similar situations to the one the Deputy has presented. He understands the need for that but there are parameters and guidelines he has to work within. The requirement is for ten eligible students. One could present a case for 100 concessionary students. It is about whether that would suffice for establishing a new route. That will have to be worked out. Because it is an interim solution and many students will eventually go to the newly built school in Kildare, perhaps that is an angle that could be worked on. It is for the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and his Department to assess it. I would absolutely say the Deputy should build a case and bring it to him in terms of the numbers and demand that would be there for such a service. I thank the Deputy again for bringing this to the House.

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