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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 6 Oct 1993

Vol. 434 No. 2

Written Answers. - Eligibility for Free School Transport.

Robert Molloy

Ceist:

437 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Education the reason 47 eligible children were refused free transport facilities from the Moycullen area to attend schools in Galway City; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

The children from the Moycullen area are eligible for transport to post-primary centres within their respective catchment areas. However, some parents chose to send their children to school in Galway city which is not their catchment area. Consequently, the most they can be offered by my Department is concessionary transport from within the catchment boundary of the centre being attended.

Catchment boundary transport may be allowed, provided seats are available on an existing service after all eligible pupils have been accommodated. The other proviso is that no extra cost is incurred, either by way of using a larger or extra bus, or by rerouting an existing service. Children from the Moycullen area have been availing of transport under these conditions.

However, at the start of the school-year, it emerged that it would not be possible to accommodate all the applicants for catchment boundary tickets. I have been advised that the 42 pupils concerned did not apply for tickets until August, even though the closing date, of which they had been notified, was 23 July 1993. All pupils who applied before or by the closing date were issued with tickets before the term commenced. It has since become possible to issue tickets to 18 of the 42 late applicants. When this was being done, priority was given to students who would be sitting examinations at the end of the school year.

Michael Finucane

Ceist:

438 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Education the status of providing school transport for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

I am aware of this case and I am having the matter investigated as a matter of urgency. I will advise the Deputy of the outcome as soon as possible.

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