asked the Minister if he will explain why pupils from Tibradden, County Dublin, wishing to go to Loreto College, Stephen's Green, and the School of Commerce, Parnell Square, are being refused free transport.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport.
38.
It is a basic condition of the scheme for free transport that only those pupils who reside three miles or more from the nearest post-primary school at which free education is available are eligible for free transport.
Free transport for the pupils referred to by the Deputy has been refused because they do not fulfil this condition.
Is the Minister aware that the nearest post-primary school is four miles away and the next is five miles and that that is by direct routes? Is he aware that it requires two buses to get them there and, if they took the two buses, the distance would be much longer than the direct run into town? I should like the Minister to have another look at this?
I will, but my information is different. The pupils referred to by the Deputy are four girls from St. Brendan's Terrace, Tibradden. This area is 2½ miles from Sancta Maria College, Ballyroan, where free post-primary education up to leaving certificate standard is available for girls. One pupil from the Tibradden area and three from the neighbouring district of Kilmashogue have been provided with free transport to Coláiste Eanna, Ballyroan. Two pupils from Kilmashogue have free transport to Dundrum Vocational School. These pupils live over three miles from the nearest school, the schools at Ballyroan. The facilities are there and are used already by neighbours of the girls referred to by the Deputy.
Is the Minister aware that there is no direct transport to Dundrum——
My information is that there is.
——that it takes two buses from Tibradden to Dundrum——
I shall look into the matter.
——and that it is farther than if they come into town?
I shall have another look at it, certainly.
39.
asked the Minister for Education if he will provide an extra bus for the children who travel to Sligo schools from the Calry area of County Sligo as with present arrangements some children who are four miles from school have to leave home at 7.40 a.m. and return at 5.20 p.m. and these children have to be out of bed before 7 a.m.
I am advised by CIE that the special school bus operating from the Calry area is at present required to do a second run to cater for pupils from the Knocknahur area. A similar situation obtains in other parts of the country. Improvements to the services are being made according as the new CIE buses become available but it is not possible to state at this stage when an extra bus can be provided for the Calry area.
In the meantime, I am having investigated by CIE the question of the children of the Calry area being carried on the "first" run of the bus both morning and afternoon. This will go some way towards meeting the Deputy.
The first run is already being done by this bus from the Calry area. That is why the children have to be out of bed by seven o'clock in the morning.
I think they are not getting the first run in the afternoon at present and it is on that aspect of the matter that I shall be meeting the Deputy to some extent.
40.
asked the Minister for Education if in view of the closure of the Holy Faith post-primary school at Mullinavat he will agree to allow the former pupils of this school free transport to a similar type school in Waterford city.
Existing pupils of the Secondary Top, Mullinavat, are completing their courses in that school. The question of allowing them free transport to a similar type school in Waterford city does not, therefore, arise.
New pupils are given free transport to the nearest post-primary centres at Mooncoin and Ballyhale. Pupils wishing to attend schools in Waterford city, which is further away, are given free transport from the boundary of the Waterford catchment area at Kilmacow. However, in view of the Deputy's interest in the matter I am having the whole question re-examined.
Thank you very much.