Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the matter of school transport. The return to school for young people, particularly those who are transitioning from primary to secondary school, can be a very difficult time. Year after year, we see the mess that school transport ends up being. People are not sure whether they are getting tickets, particularly with concessionary tickets. The applications are open now and are closing at the end of the month. The payments have to be made by 6 June. Anyone who goes to the bother of paying is a genuine applicant. It is very hard to understand why people have to wait until the end of August or the start of September to find out if they are getting a school transport place. Also, this idea of Bus Éireann drivers having to retire at 70 is ridiculous. Obviously, we all want health and safety for our children, but surely a medical will show whether a 71-year-old is fit to drive a bus. I suggest that we ask the Minister, Deputy McEntee to come before the House for a debate on school transport and the fact that we should try to improve it this year in order that people will find out on time whether they will be catered for.