Oireachtas committee to continue review of school transport

A REVIEW of controversial school bus catchment boundaries that have not changed for almost 40 years is to be continued by TDs and senators early next year.

The outgoing Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science began a review last January and received hundreds of submissions in relation to the boundaries, which have been in place since the school transport system was set up in 1969.

However, the election in May meant the committee did not have time to hold hearings on the issue.

Green Party TD Paul Gogarty, who chairs the newly formed committee, said it is planned to begin hearings at the end of next month. “We have invited submissions from the public or interested parties, although anybody who sent one in earlier this year will not need to do so again,” he said.

“The idea to seek new submissions was because there are a number of new members on the committee who may have different insights or knowledge of the situation,” said Mr Gogarty.

The catchments cause controversy every year as families in many rural areas do not qualify for free school bus transport to their nearest school because they are in the catchment of another school further from their homes.

Despite these complaints, the Department of Education has never carried out a wholesale review of the boundaries.

The Programme for Government agreed by the coalition parties in June makes a commitment to review the entire school transport system, including the catchment boundaries.

Minister of State Seán Haughey, who has responsibility for the system, told the Irish Examiner last summer that one question that could be asked in the review is whether boundaries are needed at all. Mr Gogarty said they are causing hardship and expense for hundreds of families around the country. “This is because of the changing nature of the education system and the various choices of schools now available to students.” he said.

“The demographics of rural Ireland have changed enormously since then, and I don’t think anybody could say that we should maintain the present system of boundaries,” said Mr Gogarty.

The hearings are likely to include a presentation from Children’s Ombudsman Emily Logan whose written report earlier this year said that the entire school transport system needed to be overhauled.

Bus Éireann operates the school transport system for the Department of Education, carrying 135,000 people at a cost this year of €165 million.