Dan Neville
Question:216 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the catchment boundary area for students attending a school (details supplied) in County Limerick. [10299/09]
View answerWednesday, 11 March 2009
Questions (192, 193, 194)
Dan Neville
Question:217 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will announce the proposal for progressing the commitment given in the programme for Government to review the school transport system, including catchment boundaries. [10300/09]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together.
In December, 2008, on completion of the Area Development Plan, a five year ‘road map' for school buildings in Limerick City and environs was published. The review of catchment boundaries in County Limerick, will be considered in the context of this Plan and in the light of the outcome of the Value for Money Review of the School Transport Scheme, including catchment boundaries, being carried out as part of the 2009-2011 round of Value for Money Reviews approved by Government. The Steering Committee, which I established in mid-January, will look at the original objectives of the scheme, whether these objectives remain valid today, the extent to which the objectives are being achieved and whether there are possibilities for economies or efficiencies that would improve the value for money of the scheme. In this context, the review will also look at fundamental issues such as catchment boundaries. The review, when completed, will be published and submitted to the Oireachtas Select Committee on Education and Science.
Denis Naughten
Question:218 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide an extension to a school transport service (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10302/09]
View answerThe provision of transport services to the school referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, is an operational matter for Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department. My Department has asked Bus Éireann to communicate directly with the Deputy.