Vol. 427 No. 7
159 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education whether children in Rathdrum, County Wicklow attending second-level schools in Arklow have lost their right to school transport; and if she will ensure that an equal range of subjects at leaving certificate level is provided in the local school.
Under the terms of the school transport scheme, post-primary pupils in the Rathdrum catchment area are entitled to transport to Avondale Community College, provided they live at least three miles from it.
The maximum facility that can be allowed to pupils whose parents have opted to send them to Arklow Post-primary Centre, is concessionary transport from the Rathdrum catchment boundary. This concession applies only to pupils who are basically eligible for transport, and is subject to spare seats being available on existing services and at no extra cost to the Exchequer.
From its commencement, the purpose of the post-primary school transport scheme has been to allow access to a basic general education for pupils who would otherwise have difficulty in getting a post-primary education. While parents have the right to send their children to the school of their choice, a cost effective scheme could not facilitate unrestricted choice of school or subjects.
I am satisfied that Avondale Community College, Rathdrum, offers an adequate curriculum at the present time.
