Vol. 441 No. 5
23 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education if her Department has a policy whereby school authorities who are willing to pay the full cost of extending their school transport service to facilitate students and ensure their safety can do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The school transport scheme was designed to provide a basic service for all eligible children who might, otherwise, find it difficult to attend school regularly. It was not designed to provide a door-to-door service. Arrangements exist to accommodate ineligible children on State services on a fee paying basis where it is possible to do this without additional costs.
It would be a further step to extend existing transport services in order to provide an enhanced service for pupils whether eligible or ineligible. The fact that parents or school authorities would be prepared to pay for this would not in itself be acceptable because there would be other parents or school authorities who could not afford to do so. Accordingly, such arrangements would be discriminatory, on the one hand, and administratively unworkable, on the other hand. Parents are free to make their own private transport arrangements for their children to and from school provided that this service is not paid for out of State funds.
The safety of school-going children is of paramount importance to me and Bus Éireann, which operates the day-to-day running of the scheme, may be justifiably proud of its safety record.
This question relates to the three post-primary schools in Youghal, County Cork which serve west Waterford and east Cork. The children who use the post-primary school transport service are not let off at a central point, they are let off outside one of the schools. The children who attend the other two schools have to walk approximately one mile up a steep hill to reach them. One of these schools is prepared to pay the cost involved of extending the service. Will the Minister agree to extend that service? The names of the two laneways that have to be traversed to get to the schools in question are Windmill Lane and Poison Bush Lane. The Minister could hardly forget those. Youghal is the town of Sir Walter Raleigh, who was known for his chivalrous deeds for Queen Elizabeth I. I would like the Minister to be chivalrous and show compassion for children who have to carry school books a mile uphill. It is hard labour and it is not fair.
I met a deputation from the schools in question last year. I am not fully aware of the facts. The answer to the Deputy's question is no, but if the circumstances warrant it I will have another look at the case and, if possible, facilitate them within the scheme.
