Vol. 498 No. 4
422 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposed transport facilities for parents for the Newport and surrounding areas wishing to continue their children's second level education at Westport following the proposed new secondary school in Newport, County Mayo. [27433/98]
Second level pupils from the Newport area currently attending school in Westport will retain their existing school transport entitlements for the duration of their second level education.
From the school year 1999-2000 onwards, new pupils from the Newport catchment area applying for transport to attend Westport post-primary centre will be considered for catchment boundary transport only.
Under the post-primary school transport scheme, eligible pupils who wish to attend school outside their post-primary centre may be allowed transport only from within the catchment area of the school they are attending, subject to the availability of accommodation and provided that no extra State cost is incurred.
The matter of a catchment area for the new secondary school in Newport is currently under consideration by my Department and consultation will take place with the relevant school authorities in due course.
