Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Perhaps I will put my question to the Minister of State briefly. He mentioned that the issue of school transport had been addressed, but he will be aware of a situation that I raised with him last summer. It has been determined that the nearest school is through a mountain pass that is not traversable. The students cannot use school transport and, as such, must pay to attend a school that they have always attended. At the time there was talk of a review of the school transport scheme with a view to revising that part of it. How does that review stand and what are the chances of a change?

Another point has been raised with me a number of times about students being affected by the nearest school rule. It relates to questions of ethos and language. One can travel to the nearest school of ethos or language, but if the Catholic religion is one's ethos, one cannot travel to the nearest Catholic school if an education and training board, ETB, school is closer. If one is of the Protestant denomination, however, one can pass the ETB school to attend a Protestant school. I agree with the latter, but this difference in opportunities has been raised with me by the parents of Catholic students. Will the Minister of State comment in this regard?