AQW 31895/11-15

Mrs Dolores Kelly
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Upper Bann

Tabled Date: 10/03/2014
Answered On Date: 24/03/2014
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education whether he plans to provide school transport for pupils who had to transfer to St. Patrick's Primary School, Magheralin following the closure of St. Colman's Primary School, Kilwarlin.

Answer:

Determination of eligibility for assistance with school transport, and the form of that assistance, is made by the relevant Education and Library Board. I understand, from the South Eastern Education and Library Board, that it reassessed pupils transferring from St Colman’s PS to St Patrick’s PS by applying the Home to School Transport policy’s criteria; namely, ‘distance’ and ‘suitable school’. Following reassessment, eligible pupils were provided with assistance in line with the policy and with respect to the Board’s duty to provide an efficient and economic service.