Michael Brennan (Progressive Democrats)

I support Senator Finucane and ask the Minister to look compassionately at this unique situation, going back to 2001 where there were pupil-teacher ratio problems in the Limerick city catchment area resulting in pupils being allowed to go to Pallaskenry.

As Senator Finucane has said, many meetings were held during the summer and it is time to find a solution. I believe that since the meetings took place the liaison officer on Limerick County Council, Mr. Seán Burke, has found additional places for 12 pupils owing to the Church of Ireland school in Adare having a larger bus which was able to be rerouted. It is possible at this late stage that when the final figures are received from Bus Éireann tomorrow additional places will be found but Bus Éireann has put on an additional bus returning from Pallaskenry since the start of the school term. The problem is not financial as it would only cost €19,000 for a morning bus. It is a unique situation where 50% of the pupils come from outside the Pallaskenry catchment area. The college in Pallaskenry would be non-viable without those pupils. The situation was reviewed in 2001 and I ask the Minister to maintain the status quo and review the situation at year end with a view to arriving at a final outcome. It would be in everyone's interest for the pupils to be facilitated.