Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State back to the House, which he is very familiar with. I do not envy him in the fact that he was in Kerry yesterday and explained the current situation. Everybody here knows of schools that are affected.

Areas such as Réalt na Mara and Lauragh are particularly affected by the change. What is most disturbing is the fact that for 18 months prior to the budget the then Department of Transport was reviewing school transport. It took a long time to issue a report which was not discussed or debated. The practical measures should have been discussed by a school transport committee to tease out the problems we are now facing.

The biggest mistake was that this issue became a matter of budgetary savings rather considering the practical implications locally for everybody involved. I ask the Minister of State to bring together all those concerned into an Oireachtas committee to discuss the practical implications. A review is currently taking place and submissions are being sought. I am afraid that in the budget that was passed in 2010 and which is now being implemented, the effects on school transport were categorised as a financial measure and saving.

Places like Réalt na Mara and others are suffering the consequences. There is still time to reverse this decision. I note my colleagues opposite now seem to be wholeheartedly endorsing a budget they were against. I know we have to get value for money. There are ways of achieving savings without affecting the school transport system. Most importantly, rural schools will be closed.

Some of the measures will prevent parents from sending children to the schools which their siblings attend. It will have the long-term consequence of closing some schools. That is the information I have. It will not have a positive effect on rural schools. I ask the Minister of State as a matter of urgency, because some of the measures will be introduced in September, to ask an Oireachtas committee to examine the finer details of this issue. The people who proposed these budgetary measures to the previous Minister with responsibility for school transport should be asked to explain how we can make changes to this scheme that will have a positive outcome for what is a disturbing situation for many families throughout the country.