asked the Minister for Education the organisational changes which are envisaged in the school transport scheme during 1981.
31.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport Service.
30.
asked the Minister for Education if he intends to change the regulations governing the school transport scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 31 together.
The organisational structure and general regulations governing the school transport scheme are reviewed annually in connection with the preparation of the relevant circular for issue to the schools in respect of the following school year. I anticipate that it may be possible to issue such circular this year in April.
Can the Minister not give us any indication at this point of any changes he will be making and in particular any diminution in the service that may be envisaged in April?
Do I take it the Deputy would welcome some diminution or some changes?
The Minister may not take anything of the sort.
I was just wondering if he would welcome it.
In the context of rapid increases in the cost of oil and in view of the fact that in the recent budget the money provided for the school transport service was reduced from £20,420,100 to £20 million, would the Minister indicate how he will maintain the present quality of the school bus service?
I know the Deputy shares the death wish of other people for this scheme.
They nearly botched it last year.
I assure the House it is not proposed to have any diminution of the service being given at the moment.
Will the Minister not agree that, if he retains his present position long enough, this year we will see what happened last year, which was an attempt by the Government to cut the service followed by an embarrassed climb-down under pressure from this side of the House?
I indicated to Deputy Horgan and Deputy Collins last year that the disappointment which they were hoping to share in respect of the curtailment of this scheme would not be enjoyed by them. They expressed the same fears this time last year and made the same accusations.
We were right. The Minister nearly had to resign.
There was no change in the scheme last year. Details will be available in April. I hope they will be in conflict with the death wish Deputy Collins and his party and his Government when in office had for this scheme.
A final supplementary.
The Minister should not be petty. He should deal realistically with the facts.
£20 million.
How will the Minister run the service while reducing the amount of money provided for the school bus service by£½ million this year when inflation is expected to be in the region of 15 per cent and when oil prices will rocket again? The Minister should not try to fool anybody by saying he will be able to maintain the strength and quality of the present service.
He has a magic bottle.
Fan go bhfeicfidh tú.
Ceist 32 is for written reply.