asked the Minister for Education if he will arrange for free school transport facilities to be made available from Clarinbridge village, County Galway, for pupils wishing to attend Our Lady's secondary school for boys, Gort, County Galway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway School Transport.
12.
The appropriate post-primary centre for the Clarinbridge area is Oranmore Convent Secondary School, some 3½ miles from Clarinbridge village.
Catchment boundary facilities to Gort post-primary centre, over 13 miles from Clarinbridge, are available from Kilcolgan, about 1½ miles from Clarinbridge village. Accordingly, the position will remain unchanged.
Could the Minister tell me if he has given the answer to a previous question made to his predecessor?
On 17 December 1980, Deputy Donnellan asked a similar question. The reply at that time explained the reasons why the decision as sought could not be made. That position has not changed. The reality is that the students involved have a facility which they have chosen to, shall we say, neglect to utilise and have opted, instead, to seek transport to another centre. In the circumstances, their request cannot be met.