Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Hoctor for tabling this matter on the Adjournment and I welcome the opportunity to outline to the House my Department's position on school transport to Boher national school, Killaloe, County Clare.

One of the main objectives of the school transport scheme is to provide a basic level of service for pupils who live long distances from school and who might otherwise experience difficulty in attending regularly. In order to be eligible for transport under the terms of the primary school transport scheme, pupils must reside 3.2 km or more from, and be attending, their nearest national school, as determined by my Department. While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, it is not the objective of the school transport scheme to facilitate that choice.

My Department has no objection to pupils availing of concessionary fare-paying transport to a school other than their nearest, provided a written evidence of agreement form is obtained from the management authorities of the pupil's nearest school. However, tickets for concessionary fare payers are issued only if spare seats are available on a bus after all fully eligible pupils have been accommodated. This concession is also subject to no extra State cost being incurred by way of extending or altering the route of an existing service. Continuation of transport will depend on the availability of spare seats on the service.

On 14 December 2006 my Department received a request for the establishment of a school bus service from a parents' representative of children attending Boher national school. The main case being put forward is that these children cannot be accommodated in the school in Ballina, which is their nearest national school, because it is oversubscribed.

My Department wrote to the parents' representative on 15 December 2006 requesting details of the ages and addresses of the pupils involved. A list of over 40 pupils was returned. This list was made up of pupils ranging in age from 4 to 11 years. My Department subsequently received representations from Deputy Hoctor regarding the issue of transport for the pupils concerned. The list of pupils has been forwarded to Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, as it is necessary in the first instance to establish each pupil's eligibility for school transport and the availability of existing transport. My Department's school transport section will examine the matter further on receipt of the Bus Éireann report and in consultation with the school planning section.

I thank the Deputy again for affording me this opportunity to explain the position to the House.

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