Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am grateful to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue yet again on the adjournment of the Dáil. It is with deep regret and dismay that I must return to this issue, namely, the provision of school transport to a group of pupils in Blackwater, County Wexford, part of my constituency, to enable them to go to the school of their choice in Wexford. I outlined the case's details to the Dáil last November. Since then, unimaginable hurdles and obstacles of every sort have been put in the way of these children and their families. This issue has been characterised by confusion in the past weeks. I am grateful that the Minister of State is present tonight and am optimistic that her presence, as the Minister responsible, will finally bring an end to the tortuous route to which the parents and children of this area have been put in recent weeks.

A variety of maps have been produced indicating that some or all of the children are within the catchment area. A variety of maps have conjured up divisions between the VEC, which is the Department's agent in transport, Bus Éireann, which is the Department's provider, and the Department itself. It is now time for honesty and clarity. Over the decades,the Department's agent, the VEC, has determined eligibility for at least some of the pupils in question. I have a letter to hand dated 5 November 2005, in which the transport liaison officer, Clare McMahon, wrote to the parents and stated that as transport liaison officer, she had requested transport for 23 eligible students from the Blackwater area.

Unfortunately, for some inexplicable reason, the Department of Education and Science has stepped into this matter directly. It does not do so in every other area, and I do not know why it did so in this case. It claims to have a different map. I requested a copy of it and I have it to hand. However, it makes no sense. The official map has a line on it which terminates in the middle of a field. Hence, it cannot be an official map. The confusion between various maps has been the catalyst for the wild goose chase that has frustrated parents. In a freedom of information request which was answered today, the school planning section of the Minister's Department, in a letter to one of the parents, stated:

As per our conversation today, 25 January 2006, in relation to Wexford catchment area maps, I wish to clarify the following points. The map which I sent you under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 is the only map which the Department of Education and Science uses when dealing with issues relating to catchment areas... There is no map in relation to post-primary catchment areas... There is no dedicated map relating to post-primary catchment areas.

The appeal that was lodged — that was the suggested route — was summarily dismissed, although even the most regressive and restrictive reading of the official map — one of the three — which the Department states to be its own, indicates that at least some of the pupils are within the catchment area.

I have a letter from Bus Éireann, indicating two boundaries. One may take one's pick as to which line has official status. One would imagine that the agent of the Department, that is, the VEC, which has been operating from its map for 40 years and which operates everywhere else in the county, would have its judgments and its determination of eligibility for at least 23 of these pupils upheld by the Department.

The Minister of State has read the file and has met a deputation. She has spoken to the pupils and has had the opportunity to reflect on this matter. I ask her to end this tortuous process, to intervene personally and take an initiative that will allow the bulk of these pupils, who are clearly eligible under the school transport scheme, transport to their school of choice. I hope the Minister will bring an end to this ongoing frustration and will provide relief to these parents and children tonight.

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I welcome this opportunity to outline to the House my Department's position regarding school transport for children residing in the Blackwater area of County Wexford. By way of general comment, I should explain that one of the main objects of the school transport scheme is to provide a basic level of service for children who live long distances from schools and who might otherwise experience difficulty in attending regularly.

More than 135,000 primary and post primary pupils use the school transport scheme on a regular basis. Expenditure for school transport in 2005 was more than €122 million. The allocation for 2006 is €152 million, a 30% increase on that of last year. It includes funding towards the cost of a comprehensive package of measures which I announced last year to address the phasing out of the three for two seating arrangement on school buses.

I now wish to focus on the specific issue of transport for children attending post-primary schools. For the purposes of post primary education provision, the country is divided into catchment areas, each of which has its own post-primary centre. Under the terms of the post-primary school transport scheme, pupils are eligible for transport if they reside 4.8 km, approximately three miles, or more from the post primary centre in the catchment area in which they reside.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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This speech is identical to that given on the Minister's behalf last November by the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Tim O'Malley.

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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On such an occasion, I like to outline each of the rules and regulations that pertain.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I have them and am familiar with them.

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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On such occasions it is necessary to refer again to them because the Deputy has stated that he wants clarification.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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This is simply repetition.

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The rules and regulations concerning school transport are not always understood.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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This is identical to the speech given on 22 November.

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Unfortunately, I have found that to be the position, which is why I take the opportunity to highlight the rules on such occasions. Eligible pupils who wish to attend post primary schools in another catchment area may be allowed transport on school services from within the catchment boundary of the centre being attended, subject to there being spare seats available on the school transport service and at no additional cost to the State. The pupils themselves are responsible for getting to the catchment boundary or to the nearest school bus service within that catchment area.

Eligible pupils who are approved for catchment boundary transport are not guaranteed school transport for the duration of their education at that centre. As a concessionary measure, continued transport will depend on the availability of spare seats on the school service to that centre each school term.

In regard to the specific issue of transport for children from the Blackwater area of County Wexford, my Department's school transport section is satisfied on the basis of the map held in the Department, which is the definitive map——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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It is the map with the line going into the middle of a field.

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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——that the children in question are not fully eligible for transport to schools in Wexford town. Furthermore, Bus Éireann has informed my Department that there are not enough spare seats available on the buses to facilitate the pupils in question with catchment boundary transport to Wexford town.

A number of families from the Blackwater area recently appealed my Department's decision to the independent school transport appeals board. The board upheld my Department's decision in the matter. The Deputy's question seems to imply that my Department denied the appeal. I want to make it clear that the school transport appeals board is independent of my Department and it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in cases which have been considered by the board.