Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

St. Columba's national school in Cloonagh, Dring, County Longford is situated just outside the village of Mullinalaghta, in a very rural part of the county. Both Councillor P.J. Reilly and I have been inundated with calls from frustrated families in regard to the proposed threat to the school transport service from 1 September 2011. This service has been provided to pupils since the 1970s when the two schools in the parish were amalgamated. A firm commitment was given at that time that if the people of the area agreed to the amalgamation, the affected families would always have access to public transport to bring their children to the new facility.

Some 40 years later, the former pupils are now parents themselves and are sending their children to school on the bus. The service provides support to 18 families in the area, ten of which are paying for the service, covering a round journey of 22 km. Will the Minister for Education and Skills review this decision, which constitutes an attack on rural Ireland? For too long rural areas have played second fiddle and been seen as an easy target. People in these areas have barely recovered from the proposed closure of two-teacher schools. I am sure the Minister will say that proposal was initiated by the previous Government, and I accept that. However, the threat remains and the Minister has not put it to bed. Many people are fearful for the future of rural two-teacher schools, and this latest proposal represents another serious attack on rural life.

Only three years ago St. Columba's national school benefited under the schools building programme when a new two-teacher building was built and was opened with all necessary auxiliary facilities in place. The old building is now being used as a community and recreational hall. The school is part of a small but thriving rural community which also has a church, two pubs and a shop. As somebody who comes from a rural area and who went to a one-teacher school which has since been upgraded to two-teacher status, I have a great love and affinity for rural Ireland. The Government must do all in its power to preserve services in these areas.

I acknowledge that the Minister is in a straitjacket in terms of financial constraints, but I understand the Exchequer figures are better by some €200 million than what was anticipated at the beginning of the year. For a very small sum this service can be maintained for the 18 families which depend on it. Working parents may be unable to bring their children to school in the absence of a school bus service. I ask the Minister to review the situation as soon as possible before 1 September with a view to alleviating the fears of these families. There is a perception that we are seeing an attack on rural Ireland, including on rural schools. I hope the Minister will allay that fear this evening and will commit to revisiting this decision with a view to retaining the service that is being provided to the 18 families, ten of which are paying for it and are willing to continue to do so into the future.

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