asked the Minister for Education the steps he has taken to resolve the school transport problem at Bannatra National School, Ballina, County Mayo which has caused a strike there since 9th January, 1978.
Written Answers. - School Transport Service.
322.
The position is that for two consecutive terms the number of eligible children availing of the service fell below the minimum number specified in the school transport scheme as necessary for the continuance of a service. There was, therefore, no option but to discontinue the service after Christmas 1977. It is a matter for regret that parents should engage in unlawful activity and their action in this regard obviously prevents any reconsideration of the decision which has been taken in the matter of the transport service.
323.
asked the Minister for Education if he will resolve the school transport position in relation to at least ten children from Ballygarriss school, now amalgamated, with Robeen National school, Hollymount, County Mayo, in view of the fact that these children were collected by school transport several times to date.
The three families concerned live distances of 1.2, 0.6 and 0.1 mile respectively from the route by the special service to Robeen National School. These distances are not excessive and indeed are far less than the respective distances to the former Ballygarriss school. The Department have had to refuse authority to operate a special spur off the service route for these families, on grounds of cost in relation to benefit conferred and because of the detrimental effect—involving hardship on pupils—on the time-table for the post-primary service operated in conjunction with the Robeen service.