Dáil debates

Wednesday, 25 January 2006

 

School Transport.

8:00 pm

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I am grateful to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue yet again on the adjournment of the Dáil. It is with deep regret and dismay that I must return to this issue, namely, the provision of school transport to a group of pupils in Blackwater, County Wexford, part of my constituency, to enable them to go to the school of their choice in Wexford. I outlined the case's details to the Dáil last November. Since then, unimaginable hurdles and obstacles of every sort have been put in the way of these children and their families. This issue has been characterised by confusion in the past weeks. I am grateful that the Minister of State is present tonight and am optimistic that her presence, as the Minister responsible, will finally bring an end to the tortuous route to which the parents and children of this area have been put in recent weeks.

A variety of maps have been produced indicating that some or all of the children are within the catchment area. A variety of maps have conjured up divisions between the VEC, which is the Department's agent in transport, Bus Éireann, which is the Department's provider, and the Department itself. It is now time for honesty and clarity. Over the decades,the Department's agent, the VEC, has determined eligibility for at least some of the pupils in question. I have a letter to hand dated 5 November 2005, in which the transport liaison officer, Clare McMahon, wrote to the parents and stated that as transport liaison officer, she had requested transport for 23 eligible students from the Blackwater area.

Unfortunately, for some inexplicable reason, the Department of Education and Science has stepped into this matter directly. It does not do so in every other area, and I do not know why it did so in this case. It claims to have a different map. I requested a copy of it and I have it to hand. However, it makes no sense. The official map has a line on it which terminates in the middle of a field. Hence, it cannot be an official map. The confusion between various maps has been the catalyst for the wild goose chase that has frustrated parents. In a freedom of information request which was answered today, the school planning section of the Minister's Department, in a letter to one of the parents, stated:

As per our conversation today, 25 January 2006, in relation to Wexford catchment area maps, I wish to clarify the following points. The map which I sent you under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 is the only map which the Department of Education and Science uses when dealing with issues relating to catchment areas... There is no map in relation to post-primary catchment areas... There is no dedicated map relating to post-primary catchment areas.

The appeal that was lodged — that was the suggested route — was summarily dismissed, although even the most regressive and restrictive reading of the official map — one of the three — which the Department states to be its own, indicates that at least some of the pupils are within the catchment area.

I have a letter from Bus Éireann, indicating two boundaries. One may take one's pick as to which line has official status. One would imagine that the agent of the Department, that is, the VEC, which has been operating from its map for 40 years and which operates everywhere else in the county, would have its judgments and its determination of eligibility for at least 23 of these pupils upheld by the Department.

The Minister of State has read the file and has met a deputation. She has spoken to the pupils and has had the opportunity to reflect on this matter. I ask her to end this tortuous process, to intervene personally and take an initiative that will allow the bulk of these pupils, who are clearly eligible under the school transport scheme, transport to their school of choice. I hope the Minister will bring an end to this ongoing frustration and will provide relief to these parents and children tonight.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.