I have spent the last three years raising the issue of school transport and catchment areas. In east Cork we have a problem with school places. Some people have to travel outside their catchment area and it is their only option to get a school place but when they go for school transport, they fall outside the remit and end up having concessionary tickets. They are not covered under the medical card and it causes immense stress. We have raised this over the last number of years. Is there any common-sense approach or to whom can we speak to address this issue? Children are stressed. They only have an option of one school on the opposite side of east Cork and they are being punished because they will not qualify for free transport. The buses are demanding the €350 payment now and they are still unsure if they are even going back to school in August. Is there any way of reviewing these circumstances? This has been ongoing for the past three years and is causing stress to families and schoolchildren.

This is a matter for the Minister, Deputy Foley, and, representing Kerry, I am sure she is familiar with school transport and the issues around that. It is never an easily-solved problem. We have changed the rules on a few occasions. One rule is changed and a new anomaly or problem is created somewhere else. Then there is the difference between people who are entitled to a school pass and those who are not but receive it on a concessionary basis. It is an issue that I believe will never be fully sorted but if there are improvements we can make that do not cost too much, we are willing to make them.