A Cork East TD has called for an overhaul of the School Transport Appeals system after it was revealed that just seven of more than 1,600 appeals over school bus places have been heard.
Labour's Sean Sherlock says the Department of Education has confirmed that the number of appeals in November now stands at 1,637.
Both Cork and Galway have the highest number of appeals lodged, with more than 200 in each county awaiting an outcome.
The provision of school transport is currently being reviewed by the Education Department after many families and local public reps described it as a "broken system" with students who were eligible for bus tickets last year unable to secure a ticket for this years school term.
There was a strong demand for school bus places when the Government announced that the annual fees would be waived.
A spokesman for the Department of Education said the board meets regularly to consider appeals however some cases are more complex and require additional time.
