asked the Minister for Education the outcome of his investigation into the application made last September for post-primary school transport facilities for children from the Clonaslee area going to the CBS in Tullamore, County Offaly.
Written Answers. - School Transport Service.
110.
The position in regard to children in the Clonaslee area is that Clonaslee is an adequate centre up to intermediate certificate level and thereafter, free transport to Mount-mellick is provided for those who wish to pursue senior cycle courses. It is not open to the Department to provide an alternative service to Tullamore for children in this area but they may avail of existing services to Tullamore provided that they make their own way to the catchment boundary at Gurteen Cross.
111.
asked the Minister for Education if he is yet in a position to decide on the application made in early October last by the parents in the Mountrath area for transport facilities for their children attending Ballyfin College, County Laois.
Since Mountrath is an adequate post-primary centre, it is not open to the Department to authorise transport facilities for the children concerned to Ballyfin college.
112.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that the CIE bus which conveys children from the Lombardstown area of County Cork to post-primary schools in Mallow is grossly overcrowded; and if he will take steps to have the position rectified.
I am not so aware. I have been informed by CIE that the legal capacity of the vehicle operating the service from the Lombardstown area to Mallow has never been exceeded and that they have received no complaints locally about overcrowding.