asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, for the reduction in scope or discontinuance of the valuable school buses' facilities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport.
46.
I have no plans for the curtailment or for the discontinuance of the school transport service.
Has any curtailment of the service taken place?
To my knowledge no curtailment has taken place. The scheme is now being administered in precisely the fashion in which it was administered when I took over, with the provision that in certain areas I have moved beyond the regulations which governed the scheme before I took over.
Is the Minister aware that some Deputies from his party have being saying in different parts of the country that sweeping changes are due in the transport service next March, and will he give the House, in advance of any unilateral decision to make such sweeping changes, some details of what is proposed and if at all possible, which I think unlikely, allay the fears of both parents and trade unionists who are involved in the service?
The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot deny to any Deputy on this side of the House or on that side of the House the right of expression. I have no responsibility for what any Deputy says outside the House.
I accept that the Minister has no responsibility for it, but will the Minister confirm or deny that there are going to be sweeping changes in the transport system early next year?
I have answered the question. For the Deputy's information, I have no plans for the curtailment or discontinuance of the scheme.
47.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that full school transport, promised to primary school pupils from amalgamated national school catchment areas, is not being provided in all cases; and if there has been a change of policy in this matter.
48.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that promises made in respect of the provision of transport for primary school children are being ignored.
With the permission of the Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together.
I am not so aware. There has been no change of policy in this matter. If the Deputy would care to furnish me with details of a specific case or cases in which complaints of this nature are being made I will have them investigated.
I can give the Minister details of a number of cases. Regardless of what the Minister inherited from the previous Government, which he mentioned in reply to a previous supplementary, can the Minister say whether the pupils of schools from catchment areas which were amalgamated are entitled to continue to get free transport?
They are. What is called the B scheme was introduced. If the Department spokesman had done his job properly he would have indicated to the school being taken over the terms under which the scheme would operate. In respect of that scheme there is a condition which states that, if the number availing of the scheme falls short of seven in two successive periods, the scheme may be discontinued. That was the term under which the transport was initially offered. If that condition is not satisfied the scheme will suffer. In respect of the conditions which were conveyed to the people at the time of the amalgamation, all those conditions are being honoured. I came across a case where there was some misunderstanding. In that regard I had that omission corrected. If the Deputy is aware of any departures from the promises given to the people at the time of amalgamation, I will have them examined if I am given details.
From my own knowledge as a member of the Government that introduced the free transport scheme, is it not the case that many amalgamations were only finally arrived at by agreement as a result of an open-ended promise of transport to the pupils of the catchment area of the school that was closed? That was the manner in which the scheme was sold in quite a number of cases.
If any Deputy is aware of any case where there has been a departure from the presentation of the case to the local people, I will honour any promise that was made if it is brought to my attention.
I thank the Minister for that assurance but I should like to know if it is qualified by departures from the actual presentation of the scheme?
That is the norm. If for one reason or another there was any firm promise made to any local community as to the terms under which they would accept amalgamation, then I will live with that promise rather than with the spirit of the regulation.
I am calling Question No. 49.
This is a most important matter. Would the Minister have regard to the circumstances in which the announcement of free transport was conveyed and the manner in which that promise was used in getting agreement to amalgamate schools? As a member of the Government that introduced the scheme, I am of the opinion that there was no tag attached to it for amalgamated catchment area school pupils.
When details of the manner in which the case was presented to the people have been brought to my notice, I will adjudicate in accordance with the best traditions of politicians and their promises in Government.