asked the Minister for Education if he intends to proceed with the proposed school transport pilot scheme involving the VECs in Donegal and Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

33.

asked the Minister for Education the present position regarding the proposed pilot schemes for school transport by private bus operators for the school year beginning September 1986.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 33 together.

No decision on introducing a pilot project under which the organisation of school transport would be developed to the local interests in a selected small number of areas has been taken.

May I take it from the reply that it is not intended to proceed with the proposal mooted some time ago?

The Deputy asked if I intended proceeding with the proposed school transport pilot scheme and I have told him that no decision on such a scheme has been taken. One cannot proceed with something on which no decision has been taken.

An ad hoc prior Cabinet committee of which the Minister was a member took a decision that the counties of Laois and Clare be put within private school transport arrangements by September next, but may we take it from what the Minister has said that there is now no such proposal?

I have said that no decision has been taken in the matter.

Does that mean that the replacement of the CIE school transport fleet will proceed on a phased basis?

That is a separate question.

It is closely related to the subject under discussion because, if no decision has been taken about the private scheme, the logical follow up would be that the existing CIE school transport fleet must be replaced. The Minister would need to give us a clear answer in that regard. Can he say whether Laois and Clare are to be the subjects of a pilot scheme in the autumn and, if not, will the present fleet of school transport be replaced?

That is a separate question.