Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise an issue I have raised frequently over recent years, namely, school transport, and the bizarre scenario that is happening in Cork. I am dealing with two cases, one of which relates to Laragh National School, where we eventually got movement and an agreement that it would go to Bus Éireann to get a bigger bus. Bus Éireann's response now is that the roads are too narrow for a bigger bus, so even though the Department of Education has asked it to look for a solution to the problem in order that 22 children can go to school, Bus Éireann is saying the road network around Bandon is too dangerous for a bigger bus to be put on it. It is roadblock after roadblock.

I have no confidence the Minister's proposals to bring in real change to the school transport system by 2030 will be delivered by Bus Éireann. It is the operator that will not allow 70-year-olds to drive buses. As we all know, there is a shortage of bus drivers throughout this country. It is now saying the road network is not suitable for a 52-seater bus, but there can be a 32-seater bus on the exact same road network. What is happening is bizarre, to say the least.We need to have a debate with the Minister about her confidence in trying to make sure her proposal for our school transportation system by 2030 will mean nearly everyone will be delivered by Bus Éireann. From what I have seen, it is doing nothing to help the cause of trying to deliver that. It is putting up roadblocks. I am disappointed, to say the least, that the children of Laragh National School will not have the bus service they deserve. There is another group of people from Minane Bridge and Nohoval who are trying to get to Kinsale Community School but we cannot even get a response. We need to get movement on the operator. The issue is around who is controlling the entire thing. I fundamentally believe there is a roadblock here. The Minister needs to intervene, otherwise the school transportation system will fall apart in the next few years.