I too would like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy, particularly to my colleague Senator Gerard Craughwell on the sad passing of his wife, Helen.

I want to raise the issue of the school bus transport system because, since the beginning of August, I have been inundated with communications from distressed parents over the fact that their children have not received school bus tickets for the return to school. Some children who had tickets for several years were suddenly left with no place on the bus. Some of the parents were not even notified by email or anything like that. They saw on the portal, when they went to check whether a ticket had been issued, that they were going to receive a refund. In many cases, both parents are working. They have to pay the cost of living, mortgages and so forth.

In many cases, there are very easy fixes. In several instances, there is a small bus doing a run that, if replaced with 24-, 33- or 52-seater, or whatever the case may be, would accommodate all of the students on statutory tickets who have been left without tickets for this school term. It would not cost very much. It would still be the case that only one driver would be paid. There might be a slight increase in the cost of fuel, but that is it.

The whole system is in disarray. A school transport review was carried out, which took years. The report was published in 2024 and, from what I can see, none of its recommendations has been implemented, even though the Government said it would take them on board and make the changes over the period 2024 to 2030.

Nothing has happened. I cannot see any capacity increases. The distance rules have not been changed. The necessity to attend the nearest school to be deemed eligible has not changed. It is something that needs to be addressed. School transport is essential for many families. It also gives a very good life pattern for young people in that they get into the habit of using public transport, which is important for the environment and to reduce our emissions.

I am calling on both Ministers and the Department of Education and Youth to address this issue once and for all, so we do not see a repeat every year. We need to address the shortages that exist now for those students who have been left without any transport. It cannot be allowed to happen again and again. There are some easy fixes. They have the review. What needs to happen is given. That review must be implemented without any delay.