asked the Minister for Education the subsidy paid to CIE towards student fares for the school year 1981-82.

The amount of the subsidy for the school year in question was £1,171,255.

What is the position in relation to that subsidy? Has it been withdrawn?

Yes, that is the position.

The Minister will appreciate that we have withdrawn a sum of £1 million, for children in the primary school and the first cycle in the secondary area. Is the Minister not concerned that this withdrawal will have a very damaging effect on our young people?

I do not accept that it will have a very damaging effect. Unfortunately this year the Estimates produced by the outgoing Government left a shortfall in the provision of money——

That is the position in which we found ourselves——

Do the Coalition want to give up Government? We will take over any time. The Minister is passing the buck.

Order, please. Question No. 21.

Would the Minister accept that the withdrawal of this subsidy could mean in certain cases that children who formerly travelled by bus will not be able to do so now? If they opt to be educated in their local areas, will the facilities and teachers be available? I do not think so.

I am not aware whether the facilities will be available in their own areas, but if they are not, I do not think I should be held responsible. Here we have a situation where transport was subsidised for children who would not normally qualify under the school transport scheme. This service had to be withdrawn because of the financial situation. There is nothing more I can add to what I have already said.

That is a better answer——

Question No. 21.

21.

asked the Minister for Education the estimated number of students in Dublin who benefited from the student fares' subsidy during the school year 1981-82.

It is estimated that about 50,000 pupils in the Dublin area benefited from the subsidy during the 1981-82 school year.

Is the Minister aware that the withdrawal of this service will affect those 50,000 students in the way I mentioned earlier? This is the only money the Dublin children get out of a fund of £25 million and it should be borne in mind that their parents are the main contributors to that fund.

A question, please.

Would the Minister accept that it is unjust and inequitable that the only concession these 50,000 Dublin school children were getting from the fund has been withdrawn in toto?

There are many pupils throughout the country who are not available or eligible for the service provided in Dublin city. I have explained many times in this House — at Private Members' Time and Question Time — that this decision had to be taken. I do not accept the Deputy's assessment that this was a savage move which will affect children to the extent he claimed.

22.

asked the Minister for Education the amount of money paid to CIE in respect of the student fares' subsidy in Dublin for the school year 1981-82.

Separate payments are not made in respect of Dublin city, but it is estimated that, of the total of £1,171,255 paid in the school year 1981-82, approximately 70 per cent would have benefited students in the Dublin city area.

Would the Minister accept that because of the recent cutbacks, he is imposing an additional £1 million on the parents of Dublin school children who must travel to school?

I have not decided. As the Deputy has said, that is the position.

Would the Minister accept that, in respect of those who would be travelling to primary schools — and I keep harping that the Constitution says that primary schools shall be free — that is an area to which he might apply his good sense and sense of justice, to see if anything could be done?

I have already replied in full and have nothing more to add to what I have said.