Schools transport drop

The number of children availing of the school transport service has dropped from 160,000 in 1997 to 138,000 in 2003, according to Fine Gael spokeswoman on education and science, Olwyn Enright.

She said this represented a cut of almost 15%, despite an increase in spending of e61 million on school transport.

“When spending taxpayers money on public services, the services should be improved and enhanced, not restricted as is the case here,” she said.