In advance of the new school year starting in September, many parents of sixth class pupils are faced with the dilemma of how they will get their child to their new secondary school when there is no school bus route available to them. I am particularly concerned about students in Ballon, Rathvilly and Clonegal, who have all made representations to me in recent weeks. I welcome the measure in the programme for Government to expand the school transport service to include 100,000 additional students by 2030, as well as expanding eligibility for more students, particularly those in rural areas, so they can get to school on a school bus. Will the Taoiseach please provide an answer to the parents of Ballon, Rathvilly and Clonegal on the status of the planned phasing out of the nearest school rule for the school transport scheme, and the timeline for the abolition of the rule so pupils in Ballon, Rathvilly and Clonegal do not have to spend the summer worrying about how their hard-working parents will get them to school and themselves to work?

I thank the Deputy for raising an important issue regarding school transport. I will certainly talk to the Minister regarding the specific case and bus route the Deputy raised. There are changes under way in respect of the school transport scheme. I do not have the exact timelines but I will talk to the Minister and revert back to the Deputy on this.