Bus inspectors and school transport fees
Andrews asks whether children are being used by bus inspectors to ensure school transport fees are paid. The Minister and Ceann Comhairle say this is a separate issue from the Athenry transport question and invite him to submit a separate question.
Does the Minister of State consider it appropriate that children should be used in the present context——
Comment on this
The Chair must remind the Deputy that this is confined to one school in County Galway.
Comment on this
With regard to children paying for school transport, children are now being used by bus inspectors on the instructions of the Department of Education to ensure payment of fees on buses. Is this correct?
Comment on this
That is a separate question. The question tabled by Deputy Fahey refers to the provision of a transport scheme in a particular area. If the Deputy will put down a question about what he is now referring to I will give him all the information possible, but that is certainly a separate question.
Comment on this
Will Deputy Andrews bear with the Chair for a second? This is a specific question put down in relation to one specific school. The Minister of State answered the question stating that there were no eligible pupils in the area. Now the Deputy is seeking to raise the whole question of charging for school transport. It is not reasonable. Question No. 5.