Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 7 Jun 1990

Vol. 399 No. 8

Written Answers. - School Transport.

Andrew Boylan

Ceist:

91 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the unsatisfactory nature of transport arrangements for children attending Holy Family school, Cootehill, County Cavan; the concern of the parents' association in relation to these arrangements; to the difficulty experienced by parents who have to take their children to collection points; whether these children should be collected at their homes; the measures which she will implement in order to bring about an improvement in the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The school in question caters for an extensive catchment area where pupils are widely dispersed. Long bus journeys are unavoidable due to the preference of parents that their children attend day rather than residential special schools.

Eleven vehicles are utilised to convey 78 pupils to this school at an estimated total annual cost of £81,000. The standard of service available to these pupils is reasonable and comparable to that on offer to pupils attending other special schools throughout the country.

Following a recent extension to one of the routes there will be only one pupil attending Holy Family school who does not have a home pick-up and that child is only about 500 yards from the route.