asked the Minister for Education if he will introduce a scheme under which the present C.I.E. fares charged to school children who use the subsidised bus services to and from city schools may be continued.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Children's Bus Fares.
I presume that the Deputy has in mind the transport services for children from Finglas and Ballyfermot to schools in Dublin City area and the effect which the recently announced increase in C.I.E. fares might have on these services. This matter is at present under consideration and I shall communicate with the Deputy when a decision has been reached.
Inasmuch, Sir, as they are already proposing to change the Budget, would the Minister consider communicating to this House any alteration proposed in the Budget as a result of representations made by the various Opposition Parties?
This arrangement has nothing whatsoever to do with the budgetary position.
May I ask the Minister is he aware that his colleague, the Minister for Finance, "foostered" about in this House introducing the Budget and, on the following morning, announced that the charge he had to meet in respect of the subsidy to C.I.E. was to be, in part, relieved by increasing the bus fares payable by school children going home at lunch-time? Inasmuch as the Minister now announces that that decision is being reviewed, would the Minister not agree with me that it is not a suitable matter for private correspondence between himself and a Fianna Fáil Deputy for a Dublin City constituency? He did not open his "beak" in this House on this matter, so far.
As the particular Deputy did not open his "beak", as Deputy Dillon says, Deputy Dillon will make up in this House for that.
It is a good job someone will do it.
As far as this matter is concerned, I understand that it arises in this area because people are waiting for new schools to be erected. For some time past, special arrangements have had to be made to provide for these children going to school, since there are no schools available locally. I assume some similar arrangement will be made now, until such time as the school-building programme is completed in that area.
On a point of order, surely, when information is sought in a question on the Order Paper and when the full information is not available to the Minister on the day the question is answered, it is not entirely in order for the Minister to communicate the information to the Deputy——
The question may be repeated, if the Deputy feels that the information——
The Minister has suggested he will communicate the information to the Deputy.
Is the Minister prepared to make representations to C.I.E. to have these facilities allowed to the school children in question?
I understand that negotiations are going on between the Department of Education and C.I.E. in connection with the matter.
It did not take long to shift ye.
Is the Minister aware that C.I.E. make a substantial profit on their bus service? In view of this fact, will be make strong representations—with the authority of the Government, if necessary—to C.I.E. to ensure that this facility to school-going children will not be withdrawn?
Would the Minister also ask his colleague, the Minister for Justice, why he did not give me that information yesterday when I asked for it?
Because the Deputy left the Fianna Fáil Party at a crucial moment.
Deputy Dillon left Fine Gael, too.