Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)

School transport is hugely important for every schoolgoing child at primary and post-primary level. When the school transport scheme was introduced, it was for families who may have been without transport. Now, it is because of working families. We need to make sure they avail of it and that there are enough buses for it.

There is an ambitious programme as part of School Transport 2030 to make sure we get more and more children onto the school bus service. This year, we will again have more students on the school bus service. We understand the importance of that. We will be working on the review of School Transport 2030 on a phased basis. The pilot programmes conducted in the previous school year are being assessed. They contain very important information to plan how we go forward. It is not possible in rural areas but in many other areas we will see whether we can integrate the school transport system for the greater benefit of the students and their families.

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