Vol. 248 No. 1
asked the Minister for Education if, having regard to the greatly increased burden of bus fares which many parents have to pay in respect of school-going children on their way to and from school by reason of the withdrawal of the Government subsidy of such fares and the recent substantial increases of CIE fares, he will now contribute substantially by way of a special subsidy to CIE to enable the company to restore school children's fares to their former level; and, if not, why.
47.
asked the Minister for Education when the subsidy providing cheap concession fares for children by CIE was withdrawn; and, if, in view of the hardship caused by the withdrawal, he will consider reintroducing the concession.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together.
The subsidy was withdrawn with effect from the 1st May, 1970. The school transport schemes being operated under the aegis of my Department ensure that children who have to travel excessive distances to the nearest school are provided with free transport. These schemes relieve those most in need of any burden associated with school fares. The transport services will cost over £3 million in the current financial year. Any further State contribution towards school transport costs must in present circumstances be out of the question.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that what he has done is to transfer money from the pockets of some hard pressed people? Is he aware pockets of other people? Is he aware that the effect of the withdrawal of the subsidy given by his Department is to impose on many working-class families additional bus fares of up to 10s a week in respect of school-going children?
The Deputy is aware that the purpose of the scheme when it was first introduced and even now is to cater for those who qualify as regards age and distance. While we hope to extend this scheme as far as possible it has not been found feasible in the present circumstances to continue the subsidy in Dublin where distance hardship, as it is called, does not apply to the same extent as it does in rural areas.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary not think it a somewhat incongruous procedure that for certain children free transport is being provided whereas other children are having the cost of transport directly increased? Children in places like Dún Laoghaire have to travel considerable distances—maybe not as far as in rural areas — to school because of overcrowding. Will the Parliamentary Secretary at least consider allowing a concession to those children where other children are allowed free transport?
I do not think there is anything incongruous about this. The regulations are being applied on the same basis throughout the country. I do not think the Deputy needs me to remind him what the basis of the concessions are. Special concessions were introduced in Dublin as a result of the Government's decision to subsidise this aspect of CIE's operations in 1968. It has not been found possible to continue those concessions. I want to make it clear that as far as the Department is concerned no hardship as such is being imposed on Dublin children. The same criteria of distance and age qualifications apply in Dublin as apply throughout the rest of the country.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in some cases the concessions amounted to one-third of the adult fare but that has been changed now and the concession is only half of the adult fare so that there is a considerable worsening of the situation from the point of view of the children? Could the Parliamentary Secretary say how much was involved in the subsidy in respect of children?
The subsidy for this operation prior to the increase in CIE fares was in the order of £136,000. It would be significantly more now that the fares have been increased. The Department could not in the circumstances recommend that this concession be continued. If the Deputy has any special cases which he thinks deserve special attention I shall be glad to deal with them.
In view of the grossly unsatisfactory nature of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply and his complete misunderstanding of the Dublin situation I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
