James Heffernan (Labour)

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I acknowledge that this policy was inherited by the Minister of State. As a former primary school teacher I believe the introduction of these charges could have a detrimental effect on many of the amalgamated schools. From next September, all children travelling on school buses will have to pay €50. Those living less than two miles from the school will have to pay €200. From September next year, all new children will have to pay €200. Many people are in difficult financial circumstances but as I understand it, only medical card holders will be exempt from these new charges.

I do not think the issue of charges is the main issue but rather it is an issue about changes to eligibility. From September this year, ten eligible children will be required in order to maintain a bus service. Under the previous amalgamation agreement, seven eligible children were required. If there are not ten eligible children, the bus service will cease. To be counted eligible, a child will have to live more than two miles from the school but not near to another school. As the Minister of State has outlined in his statement, those amalgamation agreements were made between the local communities and local boards of management along with the Department of Education and Skills. The main feature of these agreements was the guarantee that free school transport for the pupils would be given in return for the closure of the smaller schools. Under these agreements, distance was measured from the pupil's home to the closed school in order to determine the eligibility for free transport to the central school. Under the new system, distance will be measured to the nearest school. Pupils will be eligible for a bus service to the nearest school only if they live more than two miles from it and if there are ten eligible children living in that bus route area.

We must also consider the possible social implications this measure may have as these could be divisive in rural communities as the majority of amalgamations in the past were based on parishes. We all know that savings have to be made but as a result of this savings initiative, many pupils will be left without any transport to school. Parishes, in some cases, will be divided. This will have a knock-on effect and I am sure it will lead to problems as regards local GAA clubs, community games and other parish-based groups and activities. There is a possibility that serious situations will arise when people from the closed school catchment areas find they cannot get a ticket for a bus service which they understood would be available for their community.

This measure could also have an effect on the environment by eliminating school buses and increasing reliance on private cars. This increase in road traffic will lead to increased danger for pupils, both on the way to school and outside the school. We are all aware of the situation outside some schools which lack adequate parking facilities and dropping off and picking up areas and as a result, the collection of children at the end of the school day can be a hazardous procedure. It is nothing short of dangerous. How does the Minister of State propose to alleviate this type of problem which will be exacerbated by the additional private cars being used to bring children to school? When the bus service to the central school is withdrawn due to the fall in the number of eligible pupils, will a new bus service be established by the Department to bring children to an alternative school? If this is to be the case I must question the economic sense of replacing an established bus service with another service to a different school. If a new service is to be established, will the receiving school be permitted to take on new pupils or will it be required to apply for an extension while the original central school could be left with empty classrooms? I share the views of Senator van Turnhout because this aspect of the proposal does not make sense. Considering the likely savings as a result of these changes, will the Department then be required to fund extra capital projects such as additional parking facilities and additional classrooms in other schools?

A cousin of mine informed me that she runs a coach and bus service around the rural schools in my area and these proposals will have serious implications for her business. At best she considers she will lose two out of five routes and she will be forced to let her drivers go and to sell buses in a non-existent market. I ask the Minister of State to confirm that Bus Éireann will be putting school bus runs out to tender. We do not want a situation where operators using older or substandard buses will be able to tender at low prices and in so doing possibly putting children's safety at risk. Some things are much more important than money and the safety of children travelling to and from schools is one of these. Can the Minister of State guarantee the House that school buses will continue to be safe and comfortable? We all know that savings have to be made but I ask the Minister of State to outline what other alternatives were considered by the Department.