Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I know the value of the school bus ticket. I always say that from the middle of August through to 1 October is peak time in terms of this issue. Irrespective of the overall figures that I can give the Deputy here today in relation to the cost to the State and the amount of money that the State has invested, it pales into irrelevance when we are talking about one or two tickets for a family. The Deputy mentioned six tickets on a particular route. We have a lot of concerns in relation to whether every bus ticket on the system is being utilised to the full as well. We are looking at various ways to try to ensure that we get everybody on the school bus. Enabling the children of a family to get on the school bus at primary and post-primary levels is a huge game changer. When free education came out in the 1960s, the school transport scheme was introduced because people did not have transport. Right now it is because there are two parents working or the challenges they have with other children as well. I understand the challenges, and we are working very hard. The team in Bus Éireann and the Department of education have huge engagement to try to resolve issues. Do we have a magic wand for every issue? We probably do not, but we are working to try to resolve issues.

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