asked the Minister for Education if she will confirm the retention of the post-primary transport service from McCann's Hill, Four Roads, County Roscommon to the Roscommon post-primary school.

The route in question will continue to the end of the current school year. In the meantime the matter will be fully considered by the Department.

Is the Minister in a position to confirm that the previous Minister made no decision during our term in office regarding the termination of transport from McCann's Hill, Four Roads, to the post-primary schools in Roscommon town?

I can only confirm that nothing has been done in the matter but here again there is the question of a contravention of the school transport regulations whereby there is a crossing of catchment boundaries. I accept that up to now nothing has been done to rectify that position and I am aware that this matter has been brought to the notice of the Department by local interests, including a local headmaster, with a demand that the situation be rectified. The matter is being examined and, as I have told the Deputy, no action will be taken during the current term but the situation will be reviewed again.

Who is the headmaster who is objecting in this case? I can speak for all the headmasters who are in favour of the retention of the service. I am asking the Minister to confirm that the service will be retained. If there is no such confirmation, the Minister's remarks will cause consternation along the teaching staffs and the parents concerned.

Deputy Naughten.

The Minister has not replied to my question.

I have not prevented the Minister from replying.

In November 1982 M Ó Luinneacháin, the Principal at Balgar Secondary School, visited the transport section of the Department to inquire whether the Department were aware of the encroachment in question and to request that the operation of the Roscommon service be brought within the regulations of the scheme before the head of the school year 1982-83.

I should like the Minister to take into consideration the submissions I have made to him and I appeal to him to continue the school transport in this area as it exists. I might add that I am delighted that Deputy Leyden has got round to the idea of supporting transport to the Roscommon schools.

The Deputy must confine himself to a question.

I object to what the Deputy has said. If the Chair allows one of his own Deputies to make that sort of statement, I should at least be given the opportunity of refuting it.

The Deputy must withdraw the remark that the Chair was partial. He heard me tell Deputy Naughen that he must confine himself to a question.

I respectfully withdraw the remark but I wish to reply to what Deputy Naughten said.

It would not be in order for the Deputy to do that.

I have always been in favour of transport to schools in Roscommon at Deputy Naughten has tried to bring disrepute to the whole area in this matter.

Perhaps Deputies Leyden and Naughten can thrash this out at the chapel gate.

The sooner the better.

I have no wish to become involved in the internal matters of Roscommon but I am aware of the submissions made by Deputy Naughten in this matter. In my reply I have said that the question will be examined at the end of this school term but I am prepared to listen to any further submissions in this connection.

15.