asked the Minister for Education if she will renew the transport subsidy to CIE in the case of students attending all-Irish schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - School Transport.
126.
The subsidy in question was a general subsidy which enabled pupils who would not be eligible for transport under the school transport schemes to travel on CIE scheduled services at less than the normal child's fare while making their way to and from school. It was necessary to withdraw the subsidy as part of the measures required to make up the short-fall in the funds available to operate the school transport service in 1983.
I explained during the course of the debate on the school transport charges in this house on 23 February why an exception could not be made in the case of pupils attending all-Irish schools — Volume 340, column 935 of the Official Report.