Vol. 437 No. 2
178 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education the reason second level students from Littleisland in County Cork are being refused a subsidy towards their second level school transport costs; the basis for the decision that those students are in the Cobh catchment area when the town of Carrigtwohill is nearer to them than Cobh; and if she will review the situation.
A number of factors has been taken into account in drawing up catchment areas. These include distance, accessibility and other geographical features, viability of post-primary schools, and enrolment patterns and trends at the time. Taking all this into account, it was decided that Littleisland national school was appropriate to the Cobh catchment area.
Accordingly, for school transport purposes, the appropriate post-primary centre for students from Littleisland is Cobh. The most that can be offered to such children in respect of their attendance at Carrigtwohill is concessionary transport from the Carrigtwohill-Midleton catchment boundary. This concession would apply only to pupils who are basically eligible for transport, and subject to spare seats being available on existing services at no extra cost.
I understand that a privately-run service operates to bring these children to Carrigtwohill. There is no provision to give financial support to such a service.
