asked the Minister for Education the school transport which will be made available to a child in County Tipperary (details supplied).
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport Services.
29.
The national school nearest to this child's home is that at Newcastle, and there are not sufficient pupils in the area to warrant the establishment of a transport service to Newcastle national school.
Arrangements are being made, however, to have the child in question accommodated, on a concessionary farepaying basis, on the transport service to Grange national school, which is the next nearest national school to her home.
30.
asked the Minister for Education if a school sports transport subsidy scheme is operated by his Department; and, if so, the circumstances in which the subsidy is paid.
My Department do not operate a school sports transport subsidy scheme. In January last, a scheme was announced which would authorise an extension of the use of school buses to include the transport of pupils and teachers to and from school games and school-related physical education events.
While the school authorities would be responsible for the hireage and for the payment of accounts, my Department would continue to bear the standing costs in respect of these buses, thereby keeping the costs to the schools to a minimum.
Due to labour difficulties, CIE have not yet been in a position to bring the scheme into operation. I understand that discussions with the unions are proceeding and I hope that the difficulties will be resolved before the start of the next school year.
31.
asked the Minister for Education if arrangements have yet been made for the provision of school transport for pupils from Tawin, Oranmore, County Galway, who attend Oranmore post-primary centre.
CIE have been instructed to advertise for a suitable contractor to operate a feeder service to the existing transport service to Oranmore to cater for the pupils in Tawin.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say when CIE were contacted. Is it not true it was some five or six weeks ago?
Yes. The situation is that CIE were instructed on 25th May to advertise for a contractor. I understand an advertisement was placed and appeared in the Connacht Tribune on 4th July.
Has the Department any information from CIE on this?
We have no definitive contract with CIE, but I understand some inquiries were received on foot of the advertisement.
32.
asked the Minister for Education if he will consider the possibility of making transport facilities available for the pupils from the Aughinish area who are attending Seamount secondary college, Kinvara, County Galway, particularly because of the potential tidal hazards there.
The question of providing better transport facilities for pupils from the Aughinish area is under review at present in the light of applications for transport for the new school year. I will communicate with the Deputy further when the position is clarified.
33.
asked the Minister for Education if he will sanction the provision of school transport for children from the Moveen-Newtown areas, County Clare, to Moveen national school.
Under the terms of the school free transport scheme, it is necessary that there be a minimum of ten eligible children in a locality to warrant the provision of a transport service. As Moveen is situated north and Newtown south west of the school, they must be considered separately for school transport purposes. In the Moveen locality there are only seven children and in the Newtown locality only five who are eligible for transport. Accordingly, it is not open to the Department to institute a service from either locality.