asked the Minister for Education the amount of money paid by way of grant towards the cost of bicycles for schoolchildren who are eligible for free school transport; and the number of pupils so facilitated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport Service.
30.
Grants of two-thirds of the cost of bicycles have been offered in a number of cases but only one such offer has been accepted in recent years. In that case in September, 1972, three children in one family were involved and the grant towards the cost of three bicycles amounted to £59.33.
Is the Minister in a position to say when this scheme was introduced? Was it introduced with the free transport scheme?
If the Deputy asks me that question on another occasion, I will answer it.
Will the Minister inform the House of the number of such offers which were made to pupils?
That is a specific question——
May the House take it that a grant of two-thirds of the cost of a bicycle is available to any pupil who is living a distance from a school and where the school transport service is not available?
If a pupil comes within the regulations which govern this matter, I am sure it would be available.
The Minister is aware that pupils may be deemed eligible for school transport but that transport may not be supplied if there is not an adequate number to form a group to justify putting on a transport service. In such cases would children qualify for the two-third grant?
The regulation which covered this matter since 1972, when it was introduced, will apply to all those qualified.
Has the Minister and the Department made any effort to publicise the availability of these grants?
I take it this exchange will draw the attention of the public to it.
Would the Minister circulate the terms of this scheme to Deputies?
I will consider it.
Will the Minister send me a copy of it?
I will bring it to the attention of the Parliamentary Secretary who looks after these matters.
31.
asked the Minister for Education if he will give an assurance that the undertakings regarding school transport made to people in Ballymount national school and Clongorey national school catchment areas in County Kildare will be honoured.
The general rule in regard to transport in the case of amalgamations is that children who reside in the district of the closed school get free transport to the new central school and this is what is happening in the two cases mentioned in the question.
Is the Minister aware that there is great concern in both these areas and that this concern expressed itself in a deputation going to his Department recently because the manager and the parents felt that a map which had been drawn up outlining the boundaries had been breached and that people who built new houses there are not being served? A request from the Clongorey area before Christmas has not been resolved.
As the Deputy knows, the Department's position has been outlined to the deputation and I have answered his question in the light of those decisions.
Have the Department yielded to extreme pressure from a teachers' organisation on behalf of the Ballyshannon area where they might lose a teacher due to falling averages and where the parents have been subjected to undue pressure to opt for Ballyshannon? There is not the same concern in regard to Crookestown.
If there is any development in the case I will convey it to the Deputy.
The Minister has not told me whether the Department have received representations on behalf of one school and not the other.
That is a separate question.
Will the Minister let me know why special facilities have been made available in the Ballymount catchment area to get the pupils to attend Ballyshannon and whether it is a source of embarrassment to him that a person who is getting special treatment and is being carried to Ballyshannon is his own cousin?
The Deputy must not involve personalities.
The last point made by the Deputy is new to me. I do not think it has any effect on the matter.
Would the Minister be prepared to send officials from his Department to each of these areas to meet the parents and the public representatives?
I will ask the Parliamentary Secretary who deals with these matters to see if there is any substance in what the Deputy has said.
Will the Minister agree there is grave concern in the two areas?
The general rules in regard to transport are being carried out.
They are not. Special facilities are being given to certain pupils. I intend to pursue this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.