I thank Deputy Belton for raising this matter which gives me the opportunity to outline the position in relation to school transport for pupils from the Corlinan area to Ballinalee national school.
By way of general comment, I should explain some basic facts about the school transport scheme. Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department, has a responsibility to ensure the safe delivery of approximately 156,000 primary and post-primary pupils to schools. My Department has responsibility to ensure that the State gets the best possible value for the money spent on this service. It does not come cheaply. In 1998, the net cost to the State was about £40 million.
One of the main objects of the school transport scheme is to provide a basic level of service for children who live long distances from school and who might otherwise experience difficulty in attending regularly. I should explain that, under the terms of the primary school transport scheme, only eligible children qualify for free transport. In order to be eligible, children under ten years of age must live at least two miles from, and be attending, their nearest national school or school of amalgamation, while older children must live at least three miles away.
Eligibility may only be determined by reference to the nearest appropriate school as defined by my Department in accordance with the terms of the school transport scheme. Factors such as parish boundaries or a tradition of attendance by certain families are not relevant in determining eligibility to a particular school.
In accordance with the terms of paragraph 1.3 of the primary school transport scheme, where a school is closed and amalgamated with another, children in the closed school area, i.e., children for whom the closed school would have been their nearest had it remained open, are eligible for free transport to the school of amalgamation.
The children mentioned by Deputy Belton reside 1.9 miles from Soran closed school and 2.4 miles from Lislea closed school. Accordingly, they reside in the Soran closed school area. Soran school closed and amalgamated with Killoe national school. Therefore, under the terms of the primary school transport scheme, they are eligible for free transport to Killoe national school only.
Children who do not qualify for free transport on age or distance grounds may, however, be allowed avail of concessionary fare paying transport. Fare paying tickets are issued subject to the condition that there is accommodation available on the vehicle after all eligible children have been catered for and provided there is no extra cost to the State.
I understand in this case there is room available on the service to Ballinalee national school which passes adjacent to the family home. Accordingly, my Department is prepared to allow the pupils involved avail of concessionary fare paying transport to Ballinalee national school as the written agreement of the board of management to the provision of such transport has been secured. Tickets may be purchased from the local Bus Éireann office in Athlone. The current charge for concessionary fare paying transport is £20 per pupil per term.
I regret that it would not be open to my Department to allow free transport to pupils who are ineligible under the terms of the school transport scheme. This would lead to an increased demand from other applicants in similar circumstances throughout the country.
While being sympathetic to the transport needs of the family concerned, my Department has to consider the operation of the school transport scheme as a whole and the requirement not to breach guidelines which would have financial and policy implications for the transport service overall.
The Dáil adjourned at 9.10 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 27 May 1999.
