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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Jun 1980

Vol. 321 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport.

39.

asked the Minister for Education if he will immediately cancel the cuts announced by him in the school transport system.

40.

asked the Minister for Education the proposals, if any, under consideration for the curtailment of the school transport services for the 1980-81 school year.

42.

asked the Minister for Education the number of school children in (i) the primary sector and (ii) the second level sector who will be affected by the changes in regulations governing the school transport bus service; and the geographical distribution of children in each county so affected.

44.

asked the Minister for Education the reasons for rescinding his decision to curtail drastically the school transport scheme for the school year 1980-81; and how he intends to finance this scheme in 1980 and 1981.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle. I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 40, 42 and 44 together.

As already announced, the Government have agreed to continue the existing school transport scheme for the remainder of this year. Accordingly, as no changes are being made in the regulations, the question of children being affected by the change does not arise.

Funds for school transport for 1981 will be provided in accordance with the normal financial arrangements governing State expenditure.

Would the Minister say why the reprieve from these cuts has only been announced in relation to the rest of this year? Will he give an unambiguous commitment that the scheme which was launched this year will continue unchanged to the end of the 1980-81 school year?

The Minister is not in the business of making unambiguous commitments in respect of the year 1981. The Minister is happy to reply to the question by saying that the school transport scheme for 1980 will have no change.

Will the Minister state why in the budget Estimates for 1980 the moneys provided for the school transport scheme were reduced from £16.5 million provided in 1979 to £16 million in 1980? What are the reasons for the Government's decision in relation to the curtailment of the school bus transport scheme for 1980-81 and how does the Minister intend to finance the balance for 1980 when only £16 million has been provided for the current year? Is the Minister aware that this amount is entirely inadequate to meet the requirements of the school bus scheme?

The Deputy will appreciate that the whole question of the school transport scheme has been dealt with adequately and comprehensively by the Minister and the Government. I am sure he appreciates and shares with me the joy in there being no change in the scheme.

Is the Minister aware that at the height of the recession under the previous Government the school transport scheme was not touched? This Government are apparently intent on playing around with it for political purposes. Will the Minister give a categorical assurance that no attempt will be made to interfere with the school transport scheme in the school year 1980-81?

The Minister is reluctant to move into the past but on the invitation of the Deputy I might remind him that his Government appointed consultants with a view to charging all the beneficiaries of the scheme. I am very happy that my Government are not proposing to do that.

On a point of order, the last Government appointed consultants——

That is not a point of order.

I am asking the Minister of State to withdraw something he said.

This is not a point of order and it is a mean way of getting in.

I am asking the Minister to withdraw words he used in his last reply. The previous Government asked consultants to examine the school transport scheme and make recommendations thereon. They did not establish the committee with a view to imposing fees and I ask the Minister to withdraw his assertion.

The terms of reference were to examine the scheme with a view to introducing a charge and make a recommendation. They suggested that there should be a flat rate charge of £21 per student and presumably that Government would have implemented the recommendation.

That was just one of a number of recommendations from the consultants' report.

Will the Minister of State tell us whether a Supplementary Estimate will be introduced in the course of the present year to make good the cuts which the last Estimates revealed in the school transport system?

The Deputy has my assurance that in respect of the year 1980 there will be no deterioration in the nature of the service being given under the school transport scheme.

What was the reason for the change of mind in relation to this scheme?

The Minister for Education has gone to press on that.

The Minister of State was the first to go to press.

I was not.

Some minutes ago the Minister said he was asked questions only about 1980. There are two questions down about the 1980-81 school year and we are entitled to answers because the academic year is a unit and parents need to know what will happen in that year. Can the Minister give an assurance that there will be no change during that academic year in existing school transport arrangements?

The Leader of the Opposition is familiar enough with the conditions governing the allocation of money in respect of calendar years and must surely appreciate that I am not in a position to forecast budgetary provisions for 1981. As an economist he should appreciate that.

As an economist who has had some experience in an educational institution, I understand that it is vital in respect of each academic year to have stability. It has been a clear practice to maintain stability within an academic year and I am, therefore, asking the Minister if the school transport scheme will continue throughout the academic year. The Government may have to make decisions in the budget which could affect the following academic year, but that is another day's work to be faced when it comes. I am asking about the academic year beginning next September and running until the following June.

I am quite familiar with the position and I thought that the Leader of the Opposition would share with me the view that provisions for next year will be 1981 budgetary provisions. There is no departure from that for academics or anybody else.

Is the Minister aware that the 16 million provided in this budget is inadequate even in the context of 1980 and how does he propose to remedy the problem?

The Deputy seems to be hoping beyond hope that the service will not be provided in 1980.

That is not so.

The service will be provided and I am sorry the Deputy is disappointed.

Is it intended to introduce a Supplementary Estimate?

The service will be provided.

The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.

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