Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the changes announced in budget 2011 to the school transport scheme for primary school pupils, particularly in amalgamated schools which entered into agreements with the Department of Education and Skills which included a guarantee of free transport in return for the closure of a small local school; the damaging effects the changes are having on pupils and parents across the State; the need to debate the unwillingness of the Minister for Education and Skills to reverse the changes, and the consequences this may have for rural schools.

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