John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of school transportation and ask that an urgent debate is scheduled with the Minister in order to address what I see as a fundamental lack of common sense and satisfactory responses from Bus Éireann which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department of Education. I am raising this issue on the Order of Business today because a Commencement matter debate may be ruled out of order. I will submit parliamentary questions on this matter.

To illustrate this point, I know of an exceptionally frustrated constituent in County Waterford. I am sure other Members of the House have their own examples and frustrations. On 2 September, I was made aware of the case of a family who have children attending a local school. They qualify for a concessionary ticket, but have to travel 2.4 km in the opposite direction to the school in order to be picked up by the bus. In order to arrive at the pick-up point, the bus has to drive from a local road 2.4 km away, pick up children along the way and loop back on itself on the same road. It then travels 3 km onwards to the school.

My office has put forward a reasonable and sensible solution which, I understand, the operator is happy to facilitate if approved by Bus Éireann. Instead of the bus looping back on itself it could continue on the same road which would bring the bus past the gate of the family I represent, and then travel onwards to the school. I have done the measurements and it would reduce the existing route by 100 m. The answer I have received so far is another bone of contention. The responses I have received have not been satisfactory. I ask that common sense prevails. It is administration gone mad. It is not as though I am asking for a significant distance to be is added to a route. This is a matter of common sense and we need an urgent debate with the Minister because I am sure other Members of the House have similar examples.