Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 94: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the consideration that has been given to the concerns of the Church of Ireland community in regard to the school transportation review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19127/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I take it that the Deputy is referring to the changes to the Primary School Transport Scheme announced in the 2011 Budget by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government which derive from recommendations in the Value for Money Review of the scheme.

Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for school transport if they reside 3.2 kilometres or more from and are attending their nearest national school, as determined by my Department, having regard to ethos and language.

The decisions announced in the Budget cover the uniform application of the distance requirement, cessation of the Closed/Central School Rule (CSR), the minimum number of eligible children required to establish and retain services and the introduction of charges for eligible primary pupils. As is currently the position, families of eligible pupils, for whom there is no school transport service available, may apply for the remote area grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.

It is essential to stress that the wider context within which all these changes are taking place, is a situation of the most serious financial difficulties. Under the four year recovery plan, there is a requirement to deliver savings of €17 million on the school transport budget and these measures are an integral part of this.

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 95: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the standing of the school transport agreements signed on the amalgamation of national schools, in view of recently announced changes in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19138/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Changes to school transport services relating to the Closed School Rule were announced in the 2011 Budget by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government and derive from recommendations in the Value for Money Review of the scheme.

I wish to inform the Deputy that school transport arrangements under the Closed School Rule originated from the last major amalgamation of schools in the late 1960's. Under the Closed School Rule, transport is generally provided to the school of amalgamation for pupils who reside in a closed school area.

However, over the course of the last forty two years, many parts of Ireland have experienced changes in population, the number of schools in an area may have increased and private transport is more widely available.

My Department must always seek to ensure that every service that is funded by the public is operated in a manner that delivers for pupils, parents and taxpayers alike.