Maura Hopkins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of school transport for our local schools. I have been in contact with a number of school principals and staff across Roscommon and Galway whose schools are at risk of either losing a teacher or potentially closing due to decreasing pupil numbers. From a number of examples I have in mind there is a significant imbalance across a number of schools. Many of our schools are at full capacity and in need of expansion while just a few kilometres away other schools - many in rural areas - are at risk of closure. I ask the Leader to have a debate in the Seanad on school transport, especially for rural areas. There is a need for greater flexibility so we can use existing school resources to support our smaller rural schools and relieve pressure on those schools that are at full capacity.

I attended a meeting last week with the school principal, school staff and parents at the Woodbrook national school just outside Carrick-on-Shannon in County Roscommon. This school faces the problem of the lack of transport options. Parents locally have committed to sending their children to the school but they need transport options to make it feasible. It is a reality today that both parents work full time. Families need access to pre-school services and after-school services and, therefore, need a more flexible transport system to allow them to support their local rural schools. Would it be possible to facilitate a debate on this very important issue in the near future?