Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the nearest school rule under the school transport scheme which was introduced a number of years ago. It has a particular impact on families living in rural parishes. The Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, Deputy John Halligan, established a group to deal with the issue but nothing has come of it. I can give an example of the rule's serious impact on people living in rural areas. In my constituency the parish of Gortletteragh is quite large, with 47 townlands. The school is smack in the middle. A number of families live on the periphery and are entitled to a school bus service but not to the school in the parish in which they live. They must travel to the next parish. In fact, some of them have to travel to Drumlish in the next county of Longford, which is totally inappropriate. When the rule was introduced, there was no consideration given to the impact it would have on people living in rural areas. My understanding is that it resulted from a directive or circular from the Department. Can an addendum be attached to it to recognise the situation in rural parishes? Everybody knows that people living in rural Ireland have a particular affinity with their parish. The school in Gortletteragh is holding a meeting next Saturday to discuss the issue. It is a serious problem throughout the country.

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