asked the Minister for Education whether he has made any arrangement with the Dublin United Tramways Company for the provision of free or halfpenny fares to and from school for school children who are living in new housing areas on the outskirts of the city and who are attending schools in the centre of the city.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transport Facilities for School Children.
I assume that the areas referred to by the Deputy are the Ellenfield and Larkhill areas. From the information at my disposal it appears that the vast majority of the parents in these districts have been able to find schools at a reasonable distance to which they can send their children. There seems to be, therefore, no need for the transport facilities suggested by the Deputy. Ultimately, of course, as in other such areas, new schools are likely to be erected in the immediate locality.
If the case is not as stated by the Minister and the children have no schools to go to unless they go three miles into the centre of the city, will the Minister then consider the question of providing transport for them at reasonable charges?
The first question is to get the facts and the information I have is as I have stated.
Mr. Byrne
If I am able to give the Minister information to the effect that there are at least 100 children coming from Ellenfield and Larkhill to schools at the North Wall and Seville Place, will he consider the matter and give them reasonable transport to come to the city, because the people there are all very hard working and are hardly able to pay the high rents and the high bus fares are an additional burden on them.
I shall have any information which the Deputy may give to me examined and tested as to whether in fact the information— because I assume he has to get the information too—is correct. Then I shall have the matter fully considered in the light of any new facts which may appear.