I wish to raise an issue relating to the school bus transport system that has evolved since schools went back into class. A number of bus routes, including routes in Corofin, Belclare and elsewhere in my constituency, started off with a school transport service in September but, a week later, the buses just disappeared. There are now at least five routes on my books that have no bus to bring students to school. These are not students with concessionary tickets. Rather, they are people who are entitled to a bus to school but, for whatever reason, it has not happened. In addition, some special needs students are not getting a bus. It is a small part of the overall scheme but many students and their families are in disarray right now because there is an element that is not working. I ask that the Department and Bus Éireann get together as an emergency measure to tidy up these loose ends as a result of which a number of people who are entitled to school transport have not got it.

I understand there are a number of places across the country where it has not been possible to provide school transport. What I am told is it mostly relates to difficulty getting drivers but that might not be the case in the areas the Deputy mentioned. If he passes on the details, however, I will make sure the Minister, Deputy Foley, responds to him directly.