Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Jan 1997

Vol. 473 No. 4

Written Answers. - School Transport.

Noel Dempsey

Question:

355 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Education if she will consider a change in the pick-up point for children attending schools in Athboy, County Meath, from Cloneymore Lane to Tullaghanstown Cross, which was the pick-up point in each of the years from 1974 to 1983, in view of the safety factors involved. [1273/97]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Tullaghanstown Cross is in the Navan catchment area.

To change the pick-up point for schools in the Athboy catchment area to Tullaghanstown Cross would constitute an encroachment into the Navan catchment area and would therefore be in breach of the terms of the post-primary school transport scheme.

My Department has confirmed from its records that, prior to the introduction of the present pick-up point at Cloneymore Lane, the official pick-up point was at Derrylangan Cross, which is in the Athboy catchment area, and not at Tullaghanstown Cross.

The present pick-up point at Cloneymore Lane is not considered to be dangerous and I have no plans to alter the existing arrangements.