asked the Minister for Education if he will provide school transport for children (names supplied) all of whom live at Ballycarroll, Portarlington, County Laois and who attend Killenard national school, Portarlington.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Bus Service.
28.
As regards one of the family free transport for the children under ten and fare-paying facilities for the children over ten can be provided if application is made through the school authorities. However their home is some distance by road from the route of the service and, in view of the condition of the roads, it is not possible to bring the vehicle nearer to them.
From the information at my disposal it appears that the children of the other family are less than two miles from Killenard national school and therefore not eligible for free transport. I am, however, having the distance checked and will let the Deputy know the outcome.
29.
asked the Minister for Education if he will restore the school bus service to Ballygarrett national school, County Wexford from the Killena catchment area which was withdrawn at Easter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the terms of the free transport scheme, continuation of a service is subject to the condition that the average daily number of eligible children being conveyed does not fall below nine. As only three children are now eligible for free transport to Ballygarrett national school from the area in question, I regret that it is not open to the Department to restore this service.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary unaware that free transport has been withdrawn from 11 or 12 children who have had it for a long period? Will he admit that the Department have put in the boot as far as free transport is concerned, that it is being withdrawn from numerous children all over Wexford and, I am told, throughout the country?
If the numbers fall in a particular area of children who are basically eligible for free transport and this is drawn to the attention of the Department, under the regulations the service simply must be withdrawn. Frequently it is found that the measurements which were acted on in the past have proved to be incorrect, that children are either going to a nearer school than was at first thought or are not eligible for some other reason. When this information is disclosed, under the regulations the service must fall. This is a problem in relation to any scheme.
How many children are involved in this case? I understand it is 11 or 12. Surely if they have had this transport during a period of years it creates enormous hardship on them to have it withdrawn now?
Apparently it was found that some of the children to whom the Deputy may be referring were nearer to Ballycanew national school than to Ballygarrett national school, and when they are nearer to another national school, children cannot be considered as being among the number constituting the requisite ten eligible children for transport to a particular school.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that in many cases children would be entitled to go to either school—the school in their own parish or the nearest other school? Why ask children to change from one school to another and why withdraw transport from them? The Minister apparently has given an instruction that free transport should be withdrawn to the greatest extent possible.
The last part of the Deputy's statement is wrong. No such instruction was issued. The situation is that school transport is operated on the ground of distance, and parish boundaries do not affect the matter. It is a simple question of distance. It was found that some of these children were ineligible for age group reasons and because they were nearer to another school.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary alleging——
I will not permit another supplementary—the Deputy has been given a lot of latitude.
——that CIE are doing this on their own?
I made no such statement.
30.
asked the Minister for Education if school bus tickets will be issued to children (details supplied) in County Meath, either free or fare-paying.
The children in question live 4.0 miles from Kiltale national school which is their nearest school. They are eligible for free transport to that school. They have applied for transport to Trim national schools but as the Trim schools are not the nearest schools to the home of these children, it is not open to the Department to grant them free transport to Trim. It has been represented to me that the nearest point on the Kiltale service is 1.2 miles from the children's home and that the service to Trim is much more convenient for them. I am having further inquiries made into that aspect of the matter and will be in touch with the parents again as soon as possible.