Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 566: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the response or progress regarding the provision of a school bus service to a school (details supplied) in County Limerick, from the Mungret, Ballybrown and Raheen areas following a meeting between the parents of children of this school and officials of her Department on 7 October 2005. [30651/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The report of the recent meeting between parent representatives and officials of the Department of Education and Science regarding school transport for first year pupils attending the school referred to by the Deputy has been presented to the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, and me.

The key consideration in this matter was that the arrangements were contrary to the provisions of the post-primary school transport scheme. The Deputy will appreciate that the scheme is intended to be of general application throughout the country and any departure from its provisions damages its integrity. Therefore, while I note the strong views of parents on the matter, my concern is to ensure that such services are accessible by all eligible students on an equal basis.