Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Dec 1990

Vol. 403 No. 4

Written Answers. - Free School Transport.

John Bruton

Ceist:

47 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education the reason free school transport is being refused to children attending Longwood national school, County Meath, which is the nearest suitable school, on the grounds that the children concerned are in the catchment area of Ardanew national school which was closed 18 years ago; and if she will outline whether closed school areas continue as a permanent factor in school transport arrangements or are a temporary factor and, if so, the length of time a closed school area remains a determining factor on eligibility for free school transport to the nearest open school.

John Bruton

Ceist:

63 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education when the distance from the closed national school at Ardanew, County Meath, which has been closed for 18 years, will cease to be a factor in determining eligibility for children in the area for free school transport to neighbouring schools; and if it is the policy of her Department that closed school areas should continue to influence transport entitlements indefinitely.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 63 together.

Under the terms of the primary school transport scheme children in a closed school area are, in general, eligible for free transport only to the school of amalgamation. Children in the Ardanew closed school area are, therefore, eligible for free transport only to Kill national school into which Ardanew amalgamated.

Where, however, the school of amalgamation is not the nearest school and where the school amalgamated has been closed for a period not less than seven years, my Department are prepared to consider allowing transport to the nearest school subject to the usual conditions of age and distance. Such an arrangement would require the agreement of the board of management of the school of amalgamation.