I raise the issue of Covid and the NPHET restrictions on school transport. NPHET announced a 50% cut in capacity. Since last night, I have been contacted by more than 50 pupils from Cobh who are with a private bus operator and the operator will be cutting capacity by 50%, which means 50% of pupils cannot get to school. The operator has offered the alternative of doubling the bus route but also doubling the fare. Are there any options for private operators to be brought under the same rules as the Bus Éireann school transport system or to receive subsidies? Otherwise, we will be left with parents who will not be able to get kids to school.

Extraordinary and unprecedented resources have been made available for this school academic year for public transport. Even dealing with NPHET's advice in relation to 50% on a bus necessitated €100 million plus from the Government over and above what was provided for in the school transport scheme. Substantial resources have been provided already. I do not know the specifics of the case but if the Deputy submits them to the Department, we will see what can be done. Across the country, there are challenges in relation to this but Covid-19 is having a disruptive impact on a range of activities, as I described earlier.