George Lawlor (Wexford, Labour)

I appreciate the Minister of State is here with a prepared script not of his making, but from the Department. To say on an issue like this that the Minister is not involved in the day-to-day running is a lame excuse in the context of what I am asking. Effectively what is happening here is discriminatory. The Government is saying to children and their families who reside in an area where we a public transport system is readily available that they can benefit from this, but it is saying to children who do not have that luxury and live in largely rural areas sadly that we are not going to extend it to the bus operator that they have access to. I acknowledge that very good work has been done and very good initiatives have been introduced. The Minister of State has outlined these in the area of children from the ages of five to eight. However, Ministers arrive with great fanfare at these announcements but then tell us that they are not involved in the day-to-day operation, and it is the NTA's issue.

The notion that we would have one set of children being able to benefit from something in this country while others are told, "Sorry, you make your own way", is a bit ludicrous in the context of equality and fairness. I am sure there is a case to be taken and won somewhere. For the amount involved and the fiscal impact this will have, and the return we would get, it is ludicrous for a Minister to wash his hands off it and say: "Look, it is nothing to do with me. I will announce any initiatives. I will take the pat on the back, but when it comes to actually making a decision that is down to the NTA." That is absolutely ridiculous. This is a simple request. It is not going to break the bank in the context of the overall budgetary situation. I urge the Minister of State to go to his colleague and tell him that this is about fairness and equality for the children aged under nine who do not access public services.

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