Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is five weeks since we discussed children returning to school and the lack of school transportation. The matter has not yet been solved and is a major issue for many people throughout rural Ireland. In my part of the world, children in Rossmore, Newcestown, Dunderrow, Nohoval and Ballinhassig have all contacted us in the past week seeking clarification on the Minister's announcement last week regarding putting money aside to put in place a scheme that ensures children can get to school. There is a complete vacuum of information.

It is coming up to the mid-term break at this stage. Families are struggling trying to get kids to school. Children need access to education. A lady emailed my office yesterday to tell us she was unable to take her child to school because her husband was working abroad and she was not in a position to travel. That child did not go to school yesterday because of the lack of a school bus ticket. The child has been on the school bus for the past three years.

There are issues with three cohorts of children. The first comprises those who applied in February, but then received a subsequent email because the scheme had changed and, as a result, they did not get onto the list. The second are first years, who are considered to be in a different bracket because they were not previously on a bus. The third cohort comprises late applicants. This is all about trying to get kids to school in an appropriate and safe manner.

We have changed the rules and taken school bus passes from children who had them. Families are struggling. We need a solution.If nothing will be done, we need to tell the parents. If there is a policy change that needs to be enacted, let us enact it but we need to have a timeline. We have no timeline and because of that, kids all over the country are waiting at a crossroads for a bus that will never turn up.