Vol. 487 No. 3
317 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if free travel will be sanctioned for two families (details supplied) in County Sligo in view of the fact that their local school (details supplied) was closed thus qualifying them for free transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3955/98]
Under the school transport scheme, where a school has been closed and amalgamated with another, children for whom the closed school would have been the nearest are eligible for transport to the school of amalgamation, even though this may not be the nearest school. Eligible pupils travel free of charge.
The children to whom the Deputy refers are not attending their appropriate school by reference to transport under closure and amalgamation conditions. In the circumstances, I regret that the most these pupils are entitled to is concessionary fare paying to the school which they attend.
The report of the school transport review committee was published on 21 January 1998 and has been circulated to various interests. The matter of transport under closure and amalgamation is considered in the report. I welcome the publication of the report which will afford an opportunity for extensive debate on its contents. I will give serious consideration and reflect on the product of this debate before making final decisions on any future changes to the school transport system.
