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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 11 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 4

Adjournment Debate. - School Transport.

Thank you for the opportunity to raise this issue on the Adjournment. Every Member will recall instances where Departments have done ridiculous, foolish and occasionally stupid things. This is one such occasion. The children who attend the school catering for the local Church of Ireland community in the Clane area had free transport for the past seven to nine years. Suddenly some guru in the Department decided he or she would earn themselves the eternal gratitude of someone somewhere I do not know. He or she decided the children lived 200 yards or thereabouts nearer to another school which is outside the parish. It should be possible even for the Department of Education and Science to realise there is such a thing as a parish community which is important to people of all religions. It is not a simple or easy matter to decide to take one's children away from that school and send them, in accordance with the wishes of a Department, to another school which is outside their radius and away from their friends. I regard that as a daft decision but the next part is the daftest I have ever heard. There is no saving to the Department because the same school bus travels on the same route it has always travelled, except it has six or seven fewer passengers. It was not full previously nor is it full now.

The Minister of State, Deputy O'Dea, is the type of person who would love to get his teeth into such a problem and resolve it. I have no doubt he can resolve it. I put it in the simple words of a parent of one of the children who said: "This is a stupid situation. We have three children in Hewetsons school. My eldest son has been attending for the last seven years and has been using the bus with a free pass since he started. Celbridge (the alternative school which has been referred to) is still in the same place now as it was when my child started school. (That is a strange confirmation of the obvious if ever there was one). It has not come any nearer to us so I cannot understand why there is a change in policy". That is a simple reaction from a parent to something that is obvious to her, to me and I am sure to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dea. She concluded by saying: "The children make up one third of the group in the bus. The bus comes near to our stop for another child and it only comes half a mile off the route to collect our children". If it did not come that half mile off the route the problem would not arise. It does not seem a good business policy for the Department to run a bus to Hewetsons school which is only half full and ask the parents to switch to another school, for which it says it cannot provide a bus service in any event but the parents are expected to provide it.

The case speaks for itself. I could make other pertinent points but I will not do so. I will leave it to the discretion of the Minister to take the problem by the scruff of the neck and say, "Enough is enough of that sort of nonsense, we intend to resolve the problem and restore the status quo".

I take this opportunity to congratulate Deputy Coveney and wish him many successful years in this House.

I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this matter. By way of general comment I shall explain some basic facts about how the school transport scheme operates. Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department, has a responsibility to ensure the safe delivery of approximately 160,000 primary and post-primary pupils to schools throughout the country. My Department has responsibility to ensure the State gets the best possible value for the money spent on this service. It does not come cheap. In 1997, the net cost to the State was in excess of £40 million.

One of the main objectives of the school transport scheme is to provide a basic level of service for children who live long distances from school and who might otherwise experience difficulty in attending regularly.

Under the terms of the scheme, eligibility is determined by reference to age and distance from the nearest suitable school, not on the basis of parish boundaries. To be eligible for free transport, children under ten years of age must live at least two miles from, and be attending, the nearest national school. Older children must live at least three miles away.

For the children in question, eligibility is determined by reference to the nearest school under Protestant management. In all cases, the exact distance is measured by Bus Éireann, taking the shortest route. My Department would not allow free transport to children who are ineligible under the terms of the scheme. This would lead to much higher demand from other applicants in similar circumstances throughout the country.

Where children do not quality for free transport they may be allowed fare-paying facilities. This is subject to there being spare seats available and no additional State cost being involved. The current charge for primary fare-paying transport is £20 per pupil per term.

The children in question travelled free on the understanding that they were attending their nearest suitable school. However, it came to the attention of Bus Éireann and my Department earlier this year that these pupils reside nearer to Celbridge Church of Ireland national school. In the circumstances, these children could no longer be considered eligible for free transport to Hewetsons school.

That these pupils travelled free contrary to the terms of the scheme in no way confers a continuing right to the facility. While being sympathetic to the needs of the families concerned, the Department has to consider the wider implications for school transport as a whole and the requirement not to breach guidelines which would have financial and policy implications for the scheme throughout the country.

The relevant families were advised in March 1998 that free transport could not be offered beyond the Easter term but that they would be allowed fare-paying transport. My Department subsequently re-examined the position at the request of the families concerned but, unfortunately, was not in a position to reinstate free transport.

I understand one of the parents contacted my Department again within the past fortnight, appealing the decision on the basis of distance. The parent measured the distance herself and found Hewetsons school to be nearer to her home than the Celbridge school. My Department has pursued the matter through Bus Éireann which is in the process of having the inspector recheck the mileage as requested. Bus Éireann will provide a report in this regard as a matter of urgency.

It is understood there have been some recent changes to the road network in the area which could possibly affect the relevant mileage. If Bus Éireann confirms that Hewetsons school is the nearest, when taking the shortest route, my Department and I would be pleased to reinstate free transport as requested. However, if Celbridge is still found to be nearer to these families' homes, it is regretted that concessionary fare-paying transport is the most that could be offered in this instance.

Deputy Durkan will be informed of the outcome of that re-examination. I have no doubt if it does not come down in favour of the parents he will be in touch with us again and we will look at the situation afresh at that stage.

Hear, hear. That is the part I want to hear.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.40 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 12 November 1998.

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