Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1145: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the dispute involving the transport of children to a school (details supplied) in County Limerick has not yet been resolved; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the practice and precedent of recent years has been broken and that first year students who would have been offered transport in recent years are now being deprived of the facility; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the parents involved are demanding the maintenance of the [i]status quo[/i] rather than any new concession; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24946/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the post-primary school transport scheme, a pupil is eligible for transport is she or he resides 4.8 km or more from her or his local post-primary education centre, that is, the centre serving the catchment area in which she or he lives. In addition, an eligible pupil may be allowed the concession of transport, known as catchment boundary transport, to a centre other than her or his local centre, provided there is room on the bus to that centre after all eligible pupils have been catered for. Pupils from the areas referred to by the Deputy who reside within the Limerick city catchment area may apply for catchment boundary transport. The decision on the post-primary centre concerned was made following a full assessment of all relevant factors, and there is no proposal to reverse it.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1146: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the continuation of special school transport facilities for a person (details supplied) in County Cork ; and if urgent arrangements will be made therefor. [24954/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the person referred to by the Deputy is 20 years old and as such is not entitled to school transport. While persons in his circumstances may be offered school transport on an incidental free basis where there is a spare place on a route, unfortunately there is no spare place on this bus. However, support may be available for him from the Health Service Executive.