asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that the arrangements for transport of children to city schools from the new Crumlin township is so inadequate that (1) buses are overcrowded; (2) there is danger of serious accidents to children; (3) that numbers of children have been ordered by teachers not to come to school; and, if so, will he arrange for an immediate resumption of building of school accommodation in the locality, or in the alternative have a sufficient transport service supplied.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Conveyance of Children to School.
I am not aware that the transport service from the new Crumlin township is so inadequate that the buses are over-crowded. As the numbers of children eligible for conveyance increase additional buses and trams are made available.
Every precaution is taken to ensure that the risk of accident to the children is reduced to a minimum. Though the scheme has been in operation since the middle of February there has been no accident to any child so far as I am aware. I believe the measures which are being taken to ensure their continued safety to be satisfactory in the present circumstances.
No instruction has been issued by my Department which would prevent eligible children from being conveyed to school.
With regard to the last portion of the question, I can assure the Deputy that no effort is being spared by my Department, by the Commissioners of Public Works, and by the architects and builders to have the new schools in Crumlin ready for occupation at the earliest possible date.