asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, for the reduction in scope or discontinuance of the valuable school buses' facilities.

I have no plans for the curtailment or for the discontinuance of the school transport service.

Has any curtailment of the service taken place?

To my knowledge no curtailment has taken place. The scheme is now being administered in precisely the fashion in which it was administered when I took over, with the provision that in certain areas I have moved beyond the regulations which governed the scheme before I took over.

Is the Minister aware that some Deputies from his party have being saying in different parts of the country that sweeping changes are due in the transport service next March, and will he give the House, in advance of any unilateral decision to make such sweeping changes, some details of what is proposed and if at all possible, which I think unlikely, allay the fears of both parents and trade unionists who are involved in the service?

The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot deny to any Deputy on this side of the House or on that side of the House the right of expression. I have no responsibility for what any Deputy says outside the House.

I accept that the Minister has no responsibility for it, but will the Minister confirm or deny that there are going to be sweeping changes in the transport system early next year?

I have answered the question. For the Deputy's information, I have no plans for the curtailment or discontinuance of the scheme.

47.