(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Education if he will consider the provision of financial assistance for school transport in the more remote areas.
55.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport.
54.
(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Education what financial supports are provided towards school transport; and how they are financed.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 55 together.
My Department contributes towards the cost of the conveyance of children to national schools in the following circumstances:—
(a) as an alternative to the grant of aid to a new school or the continuance of aid to an existing school;
(b) to facilitate the attendance of handicapped children at special schools;
(c) to provide educational facilities in Dublin City for children from certain areas pending the provision of adequate school accommodation in those areas;
(d) to enable Protestant children for whom no suitable school is readily available to attend a school under Protestant management;
(e) to enable children on small islands to be conveyed by boat to schools on the mainland.
In the case of each such transport service my Department insists that a local contribution towards the expenses involved should be forthcoming. Each application for a transport service to a national school is considered on its merits.
So far as post-primary schools are concerned, Vocational Education Committees may, subject to certain conditions, provide scholarships to assist in the defraying of travel expenses of pupils who live at a considerable distance from a vocational school. A number of committees have such a scheme in operation.
Roinn na Gaeltachta operates a scheme under which transport services for the conveyance of children in Gaeltacht areas to secondary and vocational schools may be established. Subject to certain conditions, that Department may pay up to 80 per cent of the cost of such services.
In regard to the future provision of transport facilities to post-primary schools, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 73 of Wednesday, 19th May, 1965.