School Transport.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2007

Tuesday, 18 December 2007

Ceisteanna (353)

Dan Neville

Ceist:

401 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will review the post primary school transport area at Patrickswell and Croom, County Limerick. [34956/07]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Seán Haughey)

The Deputy will be aware from my reply to Parliamentary Question Number 477 of 23rd October, 2007, that the Post Primary School Transport Scheme is not designed to facilitate parents who choose to send their children to a post-primary centre outside of the catchment area in which they reside. I also advised the Deputy as to how applications for catchment boundary transport may be made.

I have no immediate plans to amend the terms of the scheme. Therefore, the existing eligibility criteria for school transport will continue to apply to all pupils, including those residing in the relevant catchment areas in County Limerick.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to review the school transport scheme, including catchment boundaries. My Department is currently considering how best to progress this task.