Beverley Flynn (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 458: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to carry out a review of catchment areas for the purpose of school transport as they are unchanged since the 1960's; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8041/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Catchment boundaries have their origins in the establishment of free post-primary education in the late 1960s and were determined following consultation with local educational interests. For planning purposes the country was divided into geographic districts each with several primary schools feeding into a post-primary centre with one or more post-primary schools. The intention was and continues to be that these defined districts facilitate the orderly planning of school provision and accommodation needs.

Reviews of specific catchment boundaries may be carried out where appropriate. A number of reviews have been carried out over the years where, for example, a new post-primary school is established in an area where previously there was none or, conversely, where a "sole provider" school closes due to declining enrolment.

The area development planning initiative, involving an extensive consultative process carried out by the Commission on School Accommodation, will also inform future revisions to catchment areas. An area development plan takes account of demographic changes and projects future enrolments for existing schools and new schools if required. Catchment boundary changes will be made where the implementation of the recommendations in an area development plan requires such adjustments.

Catchment boundaries provide a useful tool in facilitating the orderly planning of school provision and accommodation needs and the operation of the national school transport service.