Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

This is an issue that I and my party have been raising for quite a while, since it was announced in the 2011 budget by the Fianna Fáil Government of the time. The rule that will kick in from September 2012 means the catchment boundary areas, which determined eligibility for school transport for post-primary pupils, will cease and all post-primary students will be required to attend their nearest post-primary education centre, having regard to ethos and language. On the face of it, one would think there is nothing wrong with that because they should be going to their school. It does not make sense passing other schools and diverting students to schools that are further away. That sounds fine on paper, but when we look at the impact of this on the ground, it is a very different story.

In the last few weeks, people have started to focus on the fact that this cut, which was announced two years ago, will take effect in September. My office in Donegal and the local Sinn Féin councillor, Cora Harvey, have been inundated with people coming to us with issues in respect of these new criteria. A number of post-primary schools in the county will be affected by this, particularly in the region of Stranorlar. Finn Valley College and St. Columba's school would have been within the catchment area of Castlefin, Doneyloop, Lifford and Liscooly but will no longer be and the students will now be asked to attend the school in Raphoe. A total of 22 students in Castlefin will go to Stranorlar and the same applies to ten students in Ballylast, four students in Donaghmore and Liscooly, two students in The Alt, as well as others in Lifford. Up to 40 students who traditionally would have gone to the schools in Stranorlar will be told they are no longer eligible for school transport, unless they decide to attend a different school.

Existing students will still be provided with transport from these areas. The child from Castlefin who is in first or fourth year will still be transported to school in Ballybofey, but the new student in first year will be told he or she has to travel to Raphoe. This is just one example and the position in other parts of the county is similar, including Creeslough, Milford and Pobalscoil Cloich Cheannfhaola. Many parents are very annoyed because next September some children in a family will be travelling to one school while the first year student will be travelling to another. Families are being split and bus pick-up points changed, with the result that parents will have to drive their children a long distance to pick-up points. The bus routes follow different timetables which has resulted in confusion and difficulties.

I am unsure as to how this represents a saving and ask if the lead-in time for the new arrangements is sufficient. I also ask the Minister to review the scheme and describe the impact of the change on schools in Stranorlar and parents and pupils.

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