Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like the Minister of State, I come from a rural constituency and we are contacted regularly by parents of children who use the school transport system. Funnily enough, this year has not been too bad and we have not had the same level of communication as we did last year. This means the Minister of State must be doing something right. The budget of ¤170 million was reduced by ¤1 million. Being realistic, this is less than 1% and is more like 0.5%. School transport has not suffered in the same way as other sectors in society.

The measures proposed are innovative but we could be even more innovative. We need to foster and encourage car pooling, especially in rural Ireland. One way to make this happen is by offering a tax incentive whereby parents would receive a small deduction in tax or a tax allowance if they can prove they car pool or sign up to a car pooling scheme which could be run by volunteers. Many retired teachers have contacted me to say they want to do something to help. They want to work a day or two a week to help get the country back in action. They have pensions and they are quite willing to give of their time. They are able, competent and professional retired public servants. I suggest a national car pooling scheme to bring young people to school could be co-ordinated and operated entirely by retired schoolteachers, initially on a pilot basis and, if successful, rolled out nationally. This would get people back to work, save money and reduce the budget of ¤170 million. Substantial reductions to the budget could be made if people were prepared to think outside the box.