Earlier the Taoiseach stated again that every child is constitutionally entitled to an education. What happens when the main contractors to the State for school bus transport fails to bring children from their local village or town to the school to get that education? That is this case in a number of places in Kilkenny, including Mullinavat and Ballyhale and in particular Gowran where 50 families are affected. The Minister sanctioned the bus service through Bus Éireann in 2024. To date, there has been a stop-start approach to the provision of that service. I ask the Minister to directly intervene to ask why the contact is not being operated. Why has it failed the children of Gowran? Will he insist that the contract be fulfilled? Will he put the overall scheme to tender?

I regret that the 50 students have not had their school transport provided for despite sanction to do so. This is a performance and management issue between the Department of education with Bus Éireann and whoever the particular operator is. I will ask the Minister for education to engage on that matter. Where a service has been provided for, it should be delivered. I do not know the background as to why that has not happened for the students the Deputy referenced.

I will ask the Department of education to follow up on that in the context of providing the particular service for the children involved.