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

I thank the Deputy. We are looking at ways to ensure that if there is a ticket issued, it will be used. Anecdotally, the Deputy and other colleagues tell us about school routes the length and breadth of the country that have spare capacity but, when we look at the system, all of the tickets on that particular school route are occupied and accounted for, and it is therefore very difficult to reallocate them. As it is such a huge scheme, and given the amount of money the State has invested in it, we need to try to get the best value for money that we can. We also need to make sure that those who need the tickets most are being allocated the tickets. We are working across Bus Éireann and the Department to ensure that the services are reaching the families that really need the tickets. There is a good bit of work to do on that, but there is a huge commitment across government to make sure that we do that to ensure we can get the tickets out there. The most valued piece is the school bus ticket. I know from past experience and the role that I now have that when the ticket is not available, it can cause huge stress and anxiety for families and children.

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