Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)

——that the children in question are not fully eligible for transport to schools in Wexford town. Furthermore, Bus Éireann has informed my Department that there are not enough spare seats available on the buses to facilitate the pupils in question with catchment boundary transport to Wexford town.

A number of families from the Blackwater area recently appealed my Department's decision to the independent school transport appeals board. The board upheld my Department's decision in the matter. The Deputy's question seems to imply that my Department denied the appeal. I want to make it clear that the school transport appeals board is independent of my Department and it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in cases which have been considered by the board.

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