Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 780: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the criteria necessary for the changing of a school boundary area (details supplied); if the school catering for an area does not have the required number of subjects, will the school boundary area of the adjoining school which would have facilities for teaching extra subjects be changed to accommodate children to qualify for school transport. [9601/07]

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 1960's 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.

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 enrolments. 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.

Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme pupils who are eligible for transport to the education centre in the catchment area in which they reside may avail of 'catchment boundary' transport to an education centre in another catchment area provided spare seats are available on the school bus. Eligibility for school transport is not determined by way of subject choice. In the circumstances, it is not proposed to change the catchment boundary in question.