Schoolchildren have been severely affected by the Covid crisis. They are now on holidays and looking forward to going back to school at the end of August. Teachers and boards of management are doing their best to get that organised. However, there are difficulties with regard to the school bus transport system. Contractors who are with Bus Éireann are getting a 50% payment, which may help or enable that cohort to provide a service in rural Ireland. However, independent providers, those operating outside the auspices of Bus Éireann and whose services are often organised by parents or parents' councils, are vital to ensuring that children in their areas are brought to school. They will not be there to bring children to school in September because they have not received a penny from any fund. They have been refused assistance and they have been neglected. They provide a tremendous service. They are obliged to have their buses impeccable and organised and they meet that obligation. However, they will not be able to sustain the losses they have incurred. They have not received any income since schools closed. Will they be able to bring children to school in September? Will families be left without a means of getting children to school? This is a significant issue that affects all parts of the country, not just Tipperary.

The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Foley, and her team are working on this issue. We wish to ensure that all children return to school in August and that they have a means of getting there, which of course involves the provision of school transport. There will be real difficulties because capacity on school transport may be considerably reduced compared with previous years. The Minister and her team have a few weeks to get this right. They are working on it.