asked the Minister for Education the date on which her predecessor made the decision to authorise school transport for children from the Drummond area to Mountmellick, County Laois, which has always been accepted as the natural catchment for this area; if she is aware that 12 children from the area have not yet been provided with transport; and if she will make immediate arrangements to have such transport provided in accordance with the decision approved and confirmed to a deputation from the area by her predecessor.
Written Answers. - School Transport.
837.
Drummond is in the Clonaslee catchment area. The transport arrangements for pupils from the Clonaslee area provide full transport facilities for senior cycle pupils from the area who attend the Mountmellick centre. Eligible junior cycle pupils from the Clonaslee area who attend school in Mountmellick may be carried as concessionary catchment boundary pupils to Mountmellick, within the limits of the spare capacity on the existing service. My Department have no authority to incur additional expenditure to facilitate catchment boundary pupils beyond the number for which space is available.