asked the Minister for Education why he has refused to provide school transport for 11 children from the same distinct locality to Shanahoe national school, County Laois.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport Service.
32.
I understand that the locality the Deputy has in mind is that of Cappanclough. An investigation has shown that there are only seven children in this locality who are eligible for free transport. Accordingly, it is not open to the Department under the terms of the free transport scheme to provide a service for them.
Did the Parliamentary Secretary receive an official list some time ago of eleven potential pupils for the school in Shanahoe? Was that list signed by the reverend manager and the principal of the school? That being so, why does the Parliamentary Secretary say that applications have been received from only seven pupils?
I regret that I do not have the specific information to deal as fully as I would wish with the Deputy's supplementary question. I understand that there were only seven available in a distinct locality. There may have been a total of 11 eligible children in the whole school area but under the terms of the scheme there must be a basic minimum of ten in a particular locality, on one side of the school so to speak. It is that requirement which appears not to have been met in this case.
I put down this question as a result of a reply I received from the Parliamentary Secretary which indicated that there was an insufficiency of students in that area. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in Cappanclough and in the adjoining Derrykearn area there were nine pupils? Those 11 pupils can be collected in one given area. Will the Parliamentary Secretary examine the position further?
I understand that the eligible children referred to by the Deputy are residing in two distinct localities, to the north east of the school in one case, and to the north west of the school in the other.
That is not so.
I will gladly have the matter re-examined.
33.
asked the Minister for Education why adequate school transport facilities have not been provided for two children (names supplied) who travel five miles to the Church of Ireland national school in Mountmellick, County Laois; and if, in view of the hardship caused and the reaction of the reverend manager, he will now arrange proper transport facilities for them.
These children are being facilitated to Mountmellick exceptionally, on the "light" run of a vehicle which operates transport services in the area. They live 1.5 miles from the route of the "light" run. An extension to cater for them from their home may not be sanctioned as the cost would be excessive for only two children.
It is sad that the relationship between the Parliamentary Secretary and the Minister is so far out. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the reaction of the reverend manager to this refusal resulted in Deputy Flanagan putting down Question No. 25?
The Deputy should not refer to a previous question.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the reverend manager, and the parents, feel that the children of the popular religion are being picked up while these are being specifically selected for victimisation in that the bus will not detour or that the Parliamentary Secretary will not arrange for the detour to collect these children?
The Deputy seems to be making the suggestion that there is religious discrimination in this matter. I do not know whether it is a suggestion that he is recounting to me——
I am recounting.
——but it is one I reject utterly. It is without foundation. On the present "light" run these children have to go 1.5 miles to a pickup point to get the bus to school. An extension to cater for the children referred to would involve an extra six miles per day at a cost of 75p per day. It was considered that this extension was unduly expensive in the light of the fact that only these two children would benefit from it. That is the reason for the decision taken by the Department and not any of the other considerations produced by the Deputy.
I accept that but the situation is that the parents involved can point to other children in the district who are being collected by a school bus following a diversion of 1.5 miles in order to have them accommodated in that area. They ask why is it that they cannot get the same facility.
The point is that the diversion to pick up these children would be six miles because they are at present being accommodated on a "light" run. Although they are 1.5 miles from the present pickup point, the diversion to cater for them would be six miles because of the way the routes are operated. It would also involve a postponement of the pickup times for other children.
34.
asked the Minister for Education why school transport to Monasterevan CBS, County Kildare is being withdrawn at Easter.
As the number of eligible children fell below the minimum necessary for continuance, the service fell to be withdrawn from Easter next in accordance with the terms of the free transport scheme. However, it has been reported recently that additional eligible children are now availing of the service so that the number of such children exceeds the requisite minimum. As long as that position continues, the service will be maintained.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary's reply mean that the notice terminating the service at Easter is in the process of being withdrawn?
New facts have come to light and the decision has been made to continue the service.
Did the Parliamentary Secretary consider the situation which would have existed if the transport had been withdrawn for the pupils who are preparing for exams? Such pupils could have found themselves without transport in midstream and been placed in an unfortunate position as a result.
In the light of the fact that the service is not being withdrawn the Deputy's question is hypothetical.
But for the fact that other children appeared on the scene it could have been withdrawn. This should not have been allowed to happen. Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that curtailing the free transport scheme with deliberate pruning at every opportunity proves that a scheme introduced and implemented by us is being operated very grudgingly by the present Government?
The Deputy is enlarging on the subject matter of the question.
I think there have been sufficient dramatics on that in the last few days.
The Deputy's party missed the bus.
They arrived at their destination anyway and they will be here on Tuesday.
Order.