Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I second Senator Ahearn's proposal. The issues we faced over the summer, in August in particular, had to do with school transport. This has been highlighted. The Government made a commitment to provide free transport for the year. We have neglected to provide transport for some and this is not acceptable. From our children at home I am aware of two routes to Moyne Community School and the secondary schools in Ballymahon. I know of one family where the father drives to Dublin at 6.30 a.m. and the mother drops their children and those of other people from 7 a.m. because they do not have transport. I know of another family with three children who have no transport to school. We need a debate on this. We need to sort out the situation for families. It is unacceptable that this has happened.

I cannot understand why this issue arises every year. Applications are made in April but payments are not made until the end of July. Why can this not all be sorted out over the summer? The same issue arises every year with problems at the start of the school year. It is not acceptable and somebody has to answer for it.

I met a large group of parents from Cystic Fibrosis Ireland outside Leinster House, including someone I know very well. Jillian McNulty is well known to Senators. She led the campaign for the drug Orkambi. I was delighted to see her there. I was not expecting to see her because she received a kidney transplant only three weeks ago. She is doing well and in great form. I was delighted to meet her outside. She was campaigning for 35 children from throughout Ireland who are not able to receive a life-saving drug called Kaftrio. This is not acceptable. Some of the children were there today, as were the parents of other children. The HSE cannot come to an agreement with the drug company to fund this treatment. The treatment exists and it is accessible. Other children receive it but these 35 children do not. This is not acceptable and I want to highlight it to the Minister for Health.