Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

The real reason that emerged from the reply, however, is that the Traveller community will no longer enjoy its exemption from the distance requirement of 4.5 km from the school that applies to school transport. This is simply a cost-saving exercise.

Will the Minister for Education and Skills, for whom I have enormous respect and who has been a personal friend of mine for many years, explain to the House why the most discriminated group in society will not be encouraged to send their children to school through the absence of a school transport facility? Removing the exemption from distance-to-school rule is simply a cost-saving exercise, the amount of which will probably be minimal anyway. I hope the Minister will reverse this decision.