asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the financial hardship being caused to parents in Dublin city and county whose children live over three miles from their schools; and if he will consider a scheme of State subventions for the part-payment of school bus fares in such cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport.
17.
Mr. O'Malley
The transport schemes being operated under the aegis of my Department ensure that every child living three miles or more from the nearest post-primary school is provided with free transport to that school. Children living in Dublin County, eligible in accordance with this provision, are being provided with transport to the nearest school. However, in the Dublin metropolitan area, as in other urban areas, children generally do not live more than three miles from the nearest school. Accordingly, under the terms of the transport schemes, free transport is not available within the city area.
I am aware that many parents in Dublin city and elsewhere, incur transport costs in sending their children to schools other than the nearest one, but I cannot accept that a State subvention is called for in such cases.
18.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that the pupils of Ballydine attending Kilsheelan primary school, County Tipperary are not provided with free transport; that they live more than three miles from the school; and that by using public transport they are one hour late arriving at the school; and if he will arrange to have transport provided for these children.
Mr. O'Malley
The question of setting up a transport service to Kilsheelan national school for the Ballydine children was examined some time ago by my Department. It was found that there was not a sufficient number of children eligible for free transport to Kilsheelan national school to warrant the establishment of a service to that school. I might mention also that in most cases the children concerned reside much nearer to other national schools than to the school in Kilsheelan.
19.
asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that parents of post-primary school-children in the Farranfore-Firies area of County Kerry are not satisfied with the arrangements made for the free transport of these children, having regard to the fact that a radius of about 20 square miles is not served by school buses because this area includes the perimeter of four school catchment areas; and whether he will ask CIE to arrange transport (a) from Keelohane Cross to Killarney schools, (b) from Longfield Cross to Milltown schools, (c) from Farranfore to Castleisland schools, and (d) from Inchinvima Cross to Tralee schools.
Mr. O'Malley
I am not aware that there is any dissatisfaction with the transport arrangements in this area. Every eligible pupil in the area has been provided with free transport to the nearest post-primary centre in accordance with the conditions of the transport scheme.
A network of school services was established to the four post-primary centres concerned in September/ October last. Improvements to these services have been made and will continue to be made according as additional resources become available.
As regards the specific districts mentioned by the Deputy, the position is as follows:
(a) Keelohane Cross—pupils from this district have had transport to Killarney from Ballybrack. CIE have arranged that the bus which started at Ballybrack will now start at Keelohane Cross;
(b) Longfield Cross—this district is served by two routes operating into Milltown;
(c) Farranfore—a special school bus route into Castleisland commences at Farranfore. There is also a public scheduled service operating from Farranfore to Castleisland; and
(d) Inchinvima Cross—is in the Castleisland catchment area and is on a transport route to that centre. Pupils from Inchinvima attending school in Tralee have been conceded transport from the edge of the Tralee catchment area in accordance with the conditions of the scheme.