Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I would like to comment further on the two schools I mentioned earlier and ask that the Minister engage with me later on the specific issues. First, Coláiste Chill Mhantáin in the village of Redcross opened in 2012, following the amalgamation of two schools from Wicklow town. In terms of distance, Redcross is closer to Coláiste Chill Mhantáin than the designated school. Second, every morning a 51-seat bus travels to Wicklow town via Redcross on which there are 33 students and 18 empty seats. There are 11 children who have been discommoded under the scheme. All we need to do is apply some common sense and allocate these children seats on the school bus to Wicklow town. Some of the children have been attending that school for five years and are now in their leaving certificate year, which is a critical stage in their lives.

On Tinahely, last year additional children were accommodated by way of the provision of a larger bus. The same could be done for the children who are being asked to attend school in a different county rather than a school with which they have always been associated.

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