asked the Minister for Education the anticipated cost of free school transport during the financial year 1973-74.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport Service.
37.
The cost of free school transport during the 1973-74 financial year is estimated at £4,579,000. In addition, the subsidy to be paid to CIE towards the fares of school children not entitled to free school transport is estimated at £354,000.
38.
asked the Minister for Education if he is prepared to extend the use of school buses to operations other than those of transporting students to and from school.
I am at present giving active consideration, in consultation with the other interests involved, to extending the use of school buses, on a hireage basis, to meet the travel requirements of pupils and teachers participating in school games and school-related physical education events.
However, I should point out that these buses are utilitarian-type vehicles, specially designed for school work only. They were not built with ordinary transport work in mind. Moreover, the present taxation and licensing arrangements for these vehicles are such as to preclude their use for any purpose other than the conveyance of children to and from school.
I am happy to see that the Parliamentary Secretary is considering this. I am aware of all the limitations in relation to buses but, on the other hand, it should be possible, having regard to the colossal amount of idle time there is in regard to these buses, to use them even for the purpose about which Deputy Kitt spoke, namely, transporting children to swimming pools.
I agree with the Deputy that something should be done in that direction, but I think he is as well aware as I am of the difficulties that are encountered, and these difficulties do not reside solely in my Department.
Maybe the Parliamentary Secretary will have a better opportunity, and a longer one, than I had to remedy the difficulties.