Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I would like to begin by thanking the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Haughey, for the replies he has previously given me in response to my ongoing queries about this matter. I accept that he has agreed to include it in the national review of school transport. However, it would be remiss and negligent of me to fail to attempt to bring it to a conclusion. The question of whether the children in the village of Narraghmore are outside the catchment area of the proposed bus route is a debatable one. Although it is worth mentioning that the village is 7.2 km from Kilcullen, 7 km from Athy and 6.1 km from Dunlavin, that is not the point I wish to make.

It cannot be denied that the pupils to whom I refer are entitled to travel on the school bus that leaves Narraghmore for Kilcullen each day. While they may be travelling outside their catchment area, that does not enter the equation because there is room on the bus for them. They are entitled to avail of the school bus service under the rule which states that children may be accommodated if there is room for them. In this instance, there is enough room for them. However, one aspect of this arrangement is worrying for me and the parents of these children. The parents of 12 families, rather than being allowed to use the well-designed bus stop in the village of Narraghmore, are required to bring their children a mile and a half outside the village to gain access to the school bus service. The children are forced to get on the bus at a crossroads that is an absolute death trap. If common sense were to prevail in his respect, safety would be the priority and the matter would be resolved straight away. In his previous replies to me, the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, said that any change in this arrangement could have national repercussions.

I hope no child gets hurt as a result of the crazy ruling to the effect that the school bus should pass the bus stop in Narraghmore, which has been prepared by the local authority, and instead proceed to a crossroads outside the village. The children in question also have to be driven to the crossroads. As we enter the time of the year when the mornings and evenings are dark, it is worth pointing out as that the crossroads is unlit, the children are dropped off and collected in total darkness. There are at least 12 cars, not counting the general traffic in the area, including milk lorries. These are included in the photographs I have to hand. 11 o'clock

The children are entitled to be on the bus and there is no problem with the school they are attending. The only problem is that the Department, through Bus Éireann, will not pick up and drop off the children every day at a safe, well-lit destination in the village in which they live. It beggars belief that they are being put in such circumstances. It affects the parents also because the crossroads are unlit and present a danger.

Although the Minister of State in attendance, Deputy Killeen, is not the Minister of State responsible, I ask him to present my photographs to the Department and ask it to see the logic in what I am saying. I ask the Department to prioritise the children's safety in making a decision.

I will continue to pursue this matter. It would be remiss and negligent of me if I did not put the children's safety first. If they were not entitled to be on the bus, it would be a different ball game. That is not in question here. There is nothing in question only the location of the bus stop where the children are collected. What is occurring is unfair and unjust. It is wrong to make the kids travel to the crossroads. They have to get up earlier in the morning than they should and their parents have to pool resources to transport them to the pick-up point, thereby incurring a cost.

The overall picture is such that the common good is being ignored. The Department will experience problems if a child is badly hurt as a result of what is occurring. I hope common sense will prevail and the Department will consider my case positively. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, to pass on the photographs to the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, who has helped me in every way regarding this matter, even to the point of saying it will be included in the national review. The children are in too much danger at present and I hope common sense will prevail even before the national review is completed.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State responsible for lifelong learning, Deputy Haughey. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to clarify the general position regarding post-primary school transport for children residing in the area referred to by the Deputy.

The Deputy will be aware that the provision of school transport is a massive logistical operation involving the transportation by Bus Éireann of more than 125,000 children each day to primary and post-primary schools, including more than 8,000 children with special educational needs.

Under the terms of the Department's post-primary school transport scheme, a pupil is eligible for transport if he or she resides 4.8 km or more from his or her local post-primary education centre, that is, the centre serving the catchment area in which he or she lives.

The scheme is not designed to facilitate parents who choose to send their children to a post-primary centre outside of the catchment area in which they reside. However, children who are eligible for transport to the post-primary centre in the catchment area in which they reside may apply for transport on a concessionary basis to a post-primary centre outside of their own catchment area, otherwise known as catchment boundary transport. These children can be facilitated only if spare seats are available on the bus after all other eligible children travelling to the post-primary centre in which they live have been catered for.

In regard to the specific case raised by the Deputy, the Minister has outlined in previous replies to his parliamentary questions that children availing of concessionary transport must make their own way to the catchment boundary.

The safety of schoolchildren, irrespective of whether they are eligible for transport or availing of concessionary transport, is of paramount importance to the Department and to Bus Éireann. In recent years, a range of measures to enhance safety and to improve the quality of the school transport service has been put in place, both in the vicinity of and on board school buses. These measures include the phasing out of the three-for-two seating arrangement on both primary and post-primary services and providing all children with an individual seat equipped with a seat belt.

The Deputy will be aware that the planning of school bus routes, which includes the designation of pick-up and set-down points, is an operational matter for Bus Éireann. It is a feature of the school transport scheme that children availing of transport, other than those with special needs, have to make their own way to pick-up points.

The position in this case is that a child with special needs is picked up at home in accordance with the terms of the school transport scheme for children with special needs. The bus then proceeds to the next pick-up point which is close to the catchment boundary.

The children in question are not attending the post-primary centre in the catchment area in which they reside. Concessionary transport is not guaranteed and can be offered only from the nearest designated pick-up point under the terms of the scheme, which in this case is close to the catchment boundary. While individual cases regarding school transport are brought to the Department's attention from time to time, such cases are generally dealt with under the terms of the school transport scheme. Persons who are not satisfied with the Department's decision may appeal to the independent school transport appeals board.

The value for money review of the school transport scheme, including catchment boundaries, is due to be completed by the end of 2009. I thank the Deputy once again for raising this matter.