Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)

I wish to bring up an issue that I am sure is relevant for every Member of this House. It is also a timely intervention at the moment as it is with regard to school transport. I call for a debate in this House on school transport. Like many of the Members of this House, I have regularly used the representatives at Bus Éireann's email address to try to raise issues about routes school buses are taking and capacity. The timely manner of responses is totally inadequate. At this time of year, it is important that we are seen to ask for these things.

An example I wish to raise is Glenamaddy Community School in Galway. Since March, I have been contacting Bus Éireann with regard to this issue. We are not looking for increased funding for a bus route there, but for a more efficient route that would take in a much wider proportion of the population and the additional village of Ballymoe. It is timely that we have a conversation such as this. The very fact that we are not looking for money and are talking about efficiencies, which is what we are here to do, is important. I hope the House can facilitate a conversation on this in the near future.