asked the Minister for Education the reason the school bus for Ardattin national school, Tullow, County Carlow, has been discontinued in view of the fact that the numbers have increased.
Written Answers . - School Transport .
924.
: The school transport service in question was not discontinued.
925.
asked the Minister for Education if she will refund the money paid to her Department in respect of school transport by a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is a medical card holder.
926.
asked the Minister for Education if money will be refunded in respect of school transport to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is a medical card holder.
: I propose to take Questions Nos. 925 and 926 together.
Eligible pupils, both junior cycle and senior cycle, attending the post-primary centre serving the catchment area in which they reside and whose parents/legal guardians are holders of a medical card are exempt from the school transport charges. This exemption does not apply in the case of ineligible pupils, that is, pupils who reside less than three miles from their appropriate post-primary centre, nor in the case of eligible pupils availing of catchment boundary facility to attend a centre other than that designated as serving the catchment area in which they live.
Parents who have paid school transport charges in respect of pupils who qualify for exemption should apply directly to the local CIE office for a refund. This application should give the names of the pupils concerned, the school or schools attended, the numbers of the travel permits held and the date of payment. The medical card and a stamped self-addressed envelope should be enclosed.
If there are any special difficulties and the Deputy supplies my Department with full particulars of all the children availing of school transport in each of the families concerned, including the schools attended by them, I will have the matter investigated.
927.
asked the Minister for Education if she will provide transport for national school pupils from their homes to a school (details supplied) in County Wexford as was the case during the term of office of the previous Government.
: The pupils concerned have a reasonable standard of service within the terms of the School Transport Scheme. It is not proposed to alter the present arrangements.
Question No. 928 withdrawn.