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Dáil Éireann - Volume 285 - 19 November, 1975

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport Service.

17. Mr. Power asked the Minister for Education if he will ensure a continuation of free post-primary school transport to pupils who, when they commence post-primary education at a particular centre, are entitled to free transport but may subsequently be deemed ineligible if recognition for the purposes of the scheme is given to a centre nearer their homes.

Mr. Richard Burke: A pupil who commences his post-primary course at a particular centre and has been deemed eligible for full free transport to that centre does not have that facility withdrawn if recognition is subsequently given to another centre which would thereafter cater for the needs of the area in the matter of post-primary education. The provision of transport is, of course, in all cases subject to the general conditions governing the establishment and the continuance of transport services.

Mr. Power: Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that once pupils start in a particular centre and are deemed to be eligible for transport, they are not subsequently deprived of free transport?

Mr. Richard Burke: Yes.

Mr. Power: Is that the import of the Minister's remarks?

Mr. Richard Burke: Yes.

Mr. Power: If I bring a case to his notice where a pupil was deprived will he see that the matter is righted?

Mr. Richard Burke: If it is within the terms of my reply I will be glad to do so.

18. Mr. Lalor asked the Minister for Education if he has received a request to extend the existing Clonmacnoise primary school bus service in County [1542] Offaly to facilitate six pupils under ten years old who are from the Creevagh and Aughincabe areas; and if he will make arrangements to meet this request.

Mr. Richard Burke: Application was made for transport to Clonmacnoise national school for six children in the Creevagh and Aughincabe areas. The application had to be refused, because the children could not be associated with the existing service and were too few to warrant the establishment of the special service which would have been necessary.

Mr. Lalor: Would the Minister not agree that, in view of the fact that there is an existing service to Clonmacnoise national school, the extension of that service to take in those six children in the Creevagh and Aughincabe areas would be justified?

Mr. Richard Burke: I am advised that to cater for the children in question would be tantamount to the provision of a special transport service.

Mr. Lalor: If children in a particular area are catered for and the bus arrives at the national school, surely the extension of that service two miles out from the school to collect those six children would not be unjustified. At present the four families concerned hire a private bus to have their children brought into and taken from the school.

Mr. Richard Burke: I am informed that the refusal in this case was on the ground that there were not sufficient eligible pupils in the locality to warrant the provision of a special service.

Mr. Lalor: This excuse is being over-used by the Department. There are six pupils. They are only two miles out. Would the Minister look at the possibility of getting the bus which is carrying pupils from other areas to collect those six children?

Mr. Richard Burke: I do not want to repeat myself unduly, but I am advised it would be tantamount to providing a special service for a group of pupils otherwise deemed ineligible for a transport service.

[1543] 19. Mr. Meaney asked the Minister for Education if he will arrange to have transport provided for children in the Lackabaun area who are attending Millstreet primary schools in County Cork on a fare-paying basis; and if he will explain why the offer of this service was withdrawn.

Mr. Richard Burke: The school transport scheme is designed to cater for children who are eligible for free transport. Fare-paying children are catered for only to the extent that space is available for them after the eligible children have been accommodated.

With regard to the availability of facilities for fare-paying children in the Lackabaun area, it was considered necessary, and a result of a proposed amalgamation of two schools in the general area which would necessitate the provision of an additional transport service, to substitute a medium sized bus for the large vehicle which served Millstreet national schools from the Lackabaun area prior to the summer vacation, 1975. This medium sized bus was adequate for the needs of children who were eligible for free school transport, but there was a reduction in the number of places available for fare-paying passengers.

The proposed amalgamation has now been postponed for the present and, as a temporary arrangement, the large bus in question has been reallocated to Millstreet. No guarantee can, however, be given in relation to the transport of fare-payers. The numbers carried at any time will depend on spare capacity being available.

Mr. Meaney: Would the Minister state that, after Christmas until next June at least, the present facilities will obtain for fare-paying passengers? The Minister will readily understand that, if it is provided from now until Christmas there will be no change then or in the New Year.

Mr. Richard Burke: I will undertake to have the matter investigated personally.

Mr. Meaney: Will the Minister drop me a line?

[1544] Mr. Richard Burke: I will.

20. Mr. Meaney asked the Minister for Education if he will arrange to have school buses servicing Millstreet Community School, County Cork call to the school grounds to facilitate the children.

Mr. Richard Burke: Córas Iompair Éireann, who are the Department's agents in the operation of the free transport scheme, have reported that it is not advisable to bring the four large buses involved to the grounds of Millstreet Community School because free passage cannot be guaranteed for these vehicles in view of the parking of cars in the school grounds. Furthermore, one of the buses involved would have to operate a right turn from the main Killarney road into the side road on which the school is situated, and this is regarded by the company as hazardous. The pupils have a distance of 500 yards walk from the present set-down point to the school.

Mr. Meaney: While giving a detailed reply to me is the Minister aware that on wet mornings, the children are wet going into class? They then remain inside all day in their wet clothes and many of them get colds. Is the Minister further aware that when children from this school go to play matches and so on the private buses have no problem collecting them? Is the Minister further aware that people who carried out trials for CIE did everything in their power to hit the ditches and walls as best they could? It is a disgrace. Would the Minister go back to CIE again and carry out a fair and impartial test?

Mr. Richard Burke: I am glad the Deputy has asked me to see the company involved because it is the company which advises us in this matter.

21. Mr. Meaney asked the Minister for Education if he will now sanction a transport service to Ballydesmond national school, County Cork as many children there have to travel over two miles to school.

[1545] Mr. Richard Burke: The children involved in this application live in two separate localities to the north-west and south-east of Ballydesmond national school respectively. Neither of the localities concerned has a sufficient number of children who are eligible for free transport to the school to warrant the establishment of a transport service under the terms of the free transport scheme.

Mr. Meaney: I raised this matter on another occasion. The point is that there are a number of children attending that school who are eligible. It is the distance between them that the Department and the Minister say is preventing them getting that service. The whole point of the scheme was to provide a proper service for children in rural areas. Is the Minister further aware that in the last year in office of the previous Government there was a service to this school which was discontinued?

Mr. Richard Burke: I am aware that the rules and regulations governing the transport service are strictly adhered to. I am advised that, in this case, there are not sufficient pupils to warrant the establishment of a transport service.

Mr. Meaney: There are sufficient pupils attending the school. Is that not correct? But they are too far apart— is that not what the Department are saying?

Mr. Richard Burke: In fact they are in two separate areas and there would be a question of two separate services.

Mr. Meaney: Yes, but for children living over three miles from the school.

22. Mr. Meaney asked the Minister for Education if he will arrange to have the school transport service to Boherbue comprehensive school, County Cork extended to Rowels Cross, Meelin as a pick-up point.

Mr. Richard Burke: Particulars requested in this case have recently come to hand. The position is being [1546] investigated and I will communicate with the Deputy as soon as possible.

23. Mr. Cronin asked the Minister for Education if he will explain why children of two families (details supplied) in County Cork have been refused free transport to Doneraile primary schools although the bus passes by their homes and there is no transport available to them to any other school.

Mr. Richard Burke: Under the terms of the free transport scheme, free transport is generally allowed only to the nearest national school. As Ballydaniel national school is these children's nearest school, they are not entitled to free transport to Doneraile national school. However, they may avail of transport to that school on a fare-paying basis.

24. Mr. Meaney asked the Minister for Education why CIE have not provided free transport to Cappaboy national school, Kealkil, Bantry, County Cork which was sanctioned some years ago.

25. Mr. Meaney asked the Minister for Education if he will arrange to have a transport service to Cappaboy national school, Kealkil, Bantry, County Cork put into operation even if CIE have to provide the vehicle, as many children have to travel long distances.

26. Mr. Meaney asked the Minister for Education if he will arrange to have free transport provided for a family (name supplied) in County Cork who are seven miles by road from Cappaboy national school, Kealkil, Bantry, County Cork.

Mr. Richard Burke: With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 25 and 26 together.

Sanction has been given for a transport service to Cappaboy national school but it has not been found possible to place a suitable contract for the introduction of the service. It is not practicable to provide a CIE vehicle. If this service were introduced the children referred to in Question [1547] No. 26 could be accommodated on a fare-paying basis.

Mr. Meaney: Is the Minister aware that the children referred to in this question are seven miles by road from the nearest school, four miles over the nearest mountain and across two streams? That means that this family are being deprived of education. If it is within his power to say, would the Minister state why CIE will not provide a service, as they do in other areas? Local contractors say that the money offered to them is not sufficiently remunerative.

Mr. Richard Burke: Whatever about the latter point, it is true that CIE have advertised on a number of occasions and have not been able to procure the services of a contractor.

Mr. Meaney: In some instances CIE provide the service themselves. They have no problem in a built-up area providing a vehicle themselves. All this is working against the rural areas.

An Ceann Comhairle: A question, please Deputy.

Mr. Meaney: This is a real discrimination on the part of CIE of which I should like the Minister to take note, as Minister for Education.

Mr. Richard Burke: I want to reiterate that CIE have reported to us that their local offices have been unable to secure the services of a contractor.

Mr. Meaney: Is it not imperative on the Government of the day under the law to ensure, where private people cannot be got to operate the transport service, that CIE provide it? The law says they are entitled to the service. CIE have failed to get a private contractor to do it. Is it not then imperative for the Department of Education to tell CIE to go ahead and provide their own vehicles? Under the Constitution they are entitled to do so. There is a big question at issue here.

Mr. Richard Burke: I will have a look at the matter.

27. Mr. Cunningham asked the Minister for Education if he will take steps to remedy the primary and [1548] secondary school transport problems in the Gort, Carrowmullan, Crislakeel and Letter areas of the parish of Fahan, County Donegal.

Mr. Richard Burke: If the Deputy furnishes particulars of the problems to which he is referring, I will arrange to have them investigated.

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