Vol. 450 No. 8
133 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education if she will have arrangements made for school transport for children (details supplied) in County Kilkenny attending post-primary schools in Waterford city and who currently use a private bus service which is costly for their parents. [5816/95]
The children in question reside outside the Waterford city catchment area and are therefore not eligible for transport to that post primary centre. Any encroachment into other catchment areas in order to cater for children who attend school in Waterford city would be an infringement of the terms of the school transport scheme.
It is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice. It is not, however, the object of the school transport scheme to facilitate parents in exercising that choice. The operation and cost of private transport arrangements is a matter for the parents concerned.
Under the terms of the post primary transport scheme, my Department would be prepared to allow these children avail of transport from inside the Waterford city catchment boundary, provided that they are basically eligible for transport to the school of their own catchment areas. This would be subject to there being spare accommodation available on the service and provided that no additional State cost is incurred.
