Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, is doing a press conference in the Department of Education. She has announced that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will meet the costs of the families who have been waiting for the remaining concessionary bus tickets. This is crucial. It is something I have campaigned for within Fine Gael with Senators Lombard and McGahon. We had a motion at Government level last week that was passed in the Seanad. It is crucial this measure is implemented as soon as possible. Concerned families in Roscommon and Galway have been in touch with me. It has been four weeks since schools went back and it is now nearly October. Families cannot find a way to bring their children to and from school. They have had to give up jobs. We know how stressful things have been for them over the past four weeks. I am delighted to hear the Minister has brought forward this budget. She has secured more than €100 million, €90 million of which is for one-off additional funding measures for heating in schools and €10 million of which will be allocated to fuel for school transport.

The Minister has also very clearly indicated there is an understanding from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that costs will be met around children and families who have applied for bus tickets. She stated that in excess of 125,400 tickets have been allocated. That leaves more than 4,500 families who are still waiting to hear back. We need the matter to be addressed immediately. It is urgent and I call on the Deputy Leader to bring the Minister to the House to outline a timeframe for us within which that will happen.