Vol. 484 No. 2
11 Mr. M. Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will undertake a review of the school transport system to include rerouting of primary and post-primary services particularly in rural Ireland to accommodate changing demographic trends. [21605/97]
41 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to improve the school transport system. [21615/97]
82 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will publish the report on school transport which he has received. [21719/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 41 and 82 together.
Rerouting of primary and post-primary school transport services is carried out each year by Bus Éireann, as part of a routine reorganisation and monitoring of services to take account of demographic changes. The school transport review committee has recently completed an extensive review of the school transport system. The effects of declining enrolments on school transport in rural areas was one of the issues specifically highlighted in the committee's terms of reference and I understand that it has been comprehensively addressed in the committee's report.
The report of the school transport review committee was received by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dea, in September 1997, and is currently being examined in my Department.
It is intended to publish the report early in 1998 and to ensure that it receives the widest possible dissemination. My aim is to stimulate an extensive debate on the contents of the report before making final decisions on any future changes to the school transport scheme. I want to make it quite clear that I will not take any decisions until I have reflected on the debate.
