Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)

Last week, I stood here and outlined cases of children who cannot get buses. Children with additional needs cannot get transport to special schools. There were places made available but, once again, these children are being let down. Just to let the Minister of State know, in the past week only one family has got school transport. Do you know how it got it? It went to a solicitor. Are we now in a situation in this country where children with additional needs and children with disabilities must go to solicitors to get what is their constitutional right? Is that the kind of country we are running at the moment?

As I was coming into the Chamber, I was on the phone and heard that not one of those children under discussion has had transport. I spoke to a lady whose son Cillian is on a bus with six other children, none of whom has got school transport down to Carrigaline. Other families have children going up to St. Paul's, St. Bernadette's and Scoil Éanna in Montenotte but they have no transport. Those in Carrignavar go to Fermoy because the Carrignavar school is not built yet. They have no school transport.

A guy from Youghal who supplies buses contacted me today. He has four specialised buses that can take six children or three children in wheelchairs. He is ready to go. He has the buses and drivers but cannot get an answer from Bus Éireann. What kind of a show is the Government running? What kind of a show is it when there is a man with four specialised buses and children screaming and crying for school transport but no one to give an answer?

I am a TD for Cork North-Central and cannot receive correspondence – emails or phone calls – from Bus Éireann on any of my questions. I am a TD representing my community, including children with additional needs, but I cannot get an answer. It is not good enough. It is not good enough that the Department is refusing. It will not answer to parents, schools or TDs. Who is responsible? Who is going to fix it? Is the Minister of State going to fix it? I am asking the question and will be back here again next week to ask it. Will the Minister of State give a commitment here today that all those children will have school transport put in place? Will he give a commitment that Bus Éireann will contact all of them with a timeline? The way they are being treated is not good enough.

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