Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State's response has outlined numerous other problems with school transport which highlights the absolute urgency in getting this report. We are now in December and we will be lucky to get sight of it before Christmas. It will end up having taken more than two years to get a report to tell us what we basically already know which is that school transport is a bit of a joke. People are given an allocation of a school bus and nobody shows up to drive the bus. I am frustrated but I am nowhere near as frustrated as the parents who need to take time off work every day to take their kids to school.

I am hearing that there is not enough communication with these parents. I appreciate what the Minister of State is saying that they are in regular communication. We still have no idea as to when this procurement process will be completed or when the school bus is likely to come. There are two things going on here. First, the Minister of State has said that it has not been cancelled. Second, she is saying a procurement process is under way. Either the school bus is on or there is a procurement process. I do not think both can be happening at the same time.

I know the Minister of State understands my frustration. I appreciate that she is coming in here and answering questions on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. However, as politicians, we need communication with us, including timely responses to our questions from Bus Éireann which would mean I would not need to have to bring a Minister in here.