Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)

My colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, put it well when he said we had this every year. The debate about school transport is a matter of rinse and repeat. I think the Deputy used the term "a new low". That was the idea. We have all spoken about families who had bus routes confirmed and tickets issued only to get a refusal at the last minute. In my constituency, there were issues in Blackrock and Haggardstown, heading to Dundalk, and the Tullyallen to Drogheda route. I dealt with a number of our councillors, including Councillor Eric Donovan, in that regard, as has my colleague, Deputy Joanna Byrne. Some of the issues took a number of weeks to rectify. That is not taking away from the considerable amount of work that has been done. As was said earlier, we need to consider the need that is out there. We must plan properly to ensure we have the resources. I do not know for how long we are going to be talking about drivers who are over the age of 70 and who can drive in other circumstances. They can drive the same kids whether to a school tour or wherever else in any other circumstances. We have been talking about this for years and the situation has not moved on. I ask that somebody grip the issue and get it to the place it needs to be. That may alleviate some of the issue. We must ensure we have the resources to deliver.

I am told there will be a computerisation, for want of a better term, that will allow us to know how many are using the system and whatever else. That is all fine. However, we do not need to be dealing with parents who send emails stating that they paid for and received two tickets for a route that does not have a bus. Some parents received an email yesterday from Bus Éireann to state that no service was available. One correspondent of mine is a lady with a husband, both of whom work. They have a number of other children who attend a local primary school so they cannot take their two girls to a secondary school in Dundalk. We cannot have circumstances such as those. It is not good enough.

We know we need to address the issue of the thresholds relating to distances. That would deal with a significant amount.

I will finish on an issue I have previously brought up with the Minister of State. We know there is an issue in respect of transport for children with special educational needs, but I will speak about kids who are using the system as it exists.

I spoke about a Down's syndrome child who used the services for two years on a concessionary basis. I am saying he should not be concessionary; he should just get the service as a right. He and his brothers travelled and they are the only people who did not get it. I know the Minister of State is working on this. I will leave it at that.

See this speech in context