asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the distress caused to parents by the division of families of over and under 10 years under school transport regulations; and that in some cases three members of one family under 10 are conveyed by school transport and one over 10 has to walk; and if he has any proposals to rectify this anomaly.

While I am prepared to examine this matter I am very much afraid that the financial commitment involved in giving free transport to all children who reside more than two miles from the nearest national school might prove prohibitive.

The Minister is aware this is causing a great deal of distress?

We are actually preparing costings.

From the statement which the Minister made it appears he has not much hope.

I am pointing out that we are costing it at the moment. The cost will be substantial.

Does the Minister know that buses often travel along routes to school leaving some children and bringing others, while the buses are only half full.

I am having an examination made.

How long does the Minister think it will take? It does not cost anything to bring children in a bus which is half full.

We are costing this with CIE at the moment. On the basis of that analysis we will decide what to do.

Surely the Minister could advise, as a temporary measure, that where it is possible to bring children on existing transport they should not be compelled to walk for miles just because they are slightly over the age limit.

We are doing that. This question relates to the all over situation of the country as a whole relative to bringing down the three mile limit to two miles. This is what I am having costed. I have issued a direction to CIE to take children as fare-paying passengers on buses which are not full.

It does not appear to have had much effect. I would like details.

You will get them.

53.

asked the Minister for Education when transport can be provided by CIE for children living at Sixmilewater, County Cork, to Whitechurch national schools.

This matter has already received full consideration by my Department. The children in question reside 3.6 miles from Whitechurch National School and only 2.1 miles from Rathduff national school. Accordingly, under the rules governing the operation of primary school transport services, transport cannot be provided for these children to Whitechurch school since it is not their nearest national school.

54.

asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that the families of six children of two persons (names supplied) in County Cork are not allowed to travel by school bus transport to Watergrasshill school on the grounds that Riverstown school is nearer by some two miles; and that the bus to Water grasshill passes their homes and will have them at school at 9.30 a.m. and home at 4 p.m. whilst if they go to Riverstown the bus picks them up at 8.10 a.m. arriving at Riverstown national school at 8.20 a.m. so that the children have to wait on the road from 8.20 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. for school opening; and if under these circumstances he will allow these children to still attend Watergrasshill national school and use the school bus service for it.

The fundamental principle in relation to school transport is that it is provided for pupils to their nearest suitable national school subject to certain conditions in regard to age and distance from school being fulfilled.

As Upper Glanmire national school is nearer by two miles than Watergrasshill national school to the homes of the children in question, I regret that they cannot be allowed to travel on the school bus to Watergrasshill national school.

55.

asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the problem of schoolchildren having to travel from North Esk and Dunkettle to Glounthaune national school, County Cork; and if he will make provision to have them catered for by school bus services and have arrangements made to have the bus return at 3 to 3.30 p.m. so that they may not miss school subjects by having to leave at 2 p.m. to catch the bus as at present.

An application for free transport for the children in question has been recently received in my Department. The matter is receiving attention.

56.

asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that there has been a severe increase in bus fares charged to secondary school children in the Limerick area; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.

Far from there being a severe increase in bus fares charged to post-primary pupils in the Limerick area, the fares charged to all pupils in national and post-primary schools up to the age of 16 years in Limerick and in other cities and towns have been kept at the level obtaining prior to the recent increase introduced by CIE. Indeed, in very many cases, pupils up to the age of 16 years pay less than they did formerly. This has been possible because my Department is paying a special subsidy to CIE at an annual rate estimated at £130,000.

Due to the nature of the fare structure of CIE, however, pupils over 16 years who are not entitled to free transport are charged adult fares and these fares carry the recent increase of 12½ per cent. Discussions on this matter are taking place between my Department and CIE with a view to rectifying the matter.

Is the Minister aware that there has been an increase of over 150 per cent in the fares charged to children over 16 years of age using bus transport in the Limerick area?

My information is that the Deputy is misinformed and that the percentage figure is wrong.

There has been a substantial increase. Would the Minister consider taking the matter up with the Minister for Transport and Power?

We are actually engaged in talks with CIE on this.

They are being treated as adults.