Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)

Sadly, there is nothing simple about the catchment areas debate, as I have pointed out. The question of catchment areas impacts on education policy throughout the Department. There would also have to be much discussion in regard to the building programme and so on. We have a very good service considering 140,000 students travel on a daily basis. There are 5,000 routes. The annual cost of the service is €110 million, yet only €6 million of that amount comes from charges parents or guardians must pay for the provision of that service. There is a particular provision to ensure children have an opportunity to avail of gaelscoileanna.

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