John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Everything we are talking about today is an unintended consequence of what was a good policy. The unintended consequence is that children who received concessionary tickets for the last number of years, and eligible tickets in some cases, now do not have a seat on the bus. I know of between 50 and 60 children in County Louth from villages such as Ravensdale, Castlebellingham, Annagassan, Collon and Ardee who are all trying to get into Dundalk, Drogheda and Dunleer, but do not have tickets for those buses. The buses are leaving each day half full because the people who have received tickets do not need them or are not using them. As the last speaker here, I ask the Minister on behalf of the parents of those students in County Louth to set out what the plan is to fix this.