Six Census surveys have now been carried out since last review says Green Party

Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has called on the Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin and her Department officials to undertake a nationwide review of the catchment boundaries for school bus routes. The Green Party councillor says that widespread social and demographic changes had taken place since the last review and will be further reflected in the 2006 Census.

"Later this month the Central Statistics Office will release the preliminary findings of the 2006 Census. Amazingly, this will be the sixth Census since the school bus issue was last looked at. It is likely to show major population growth and demographic shifts in both urban and rural areas," says De Burca.

"The last time the catchment areas were reviewed was in 1969. Ireland, and in particular County Wicklow, has seen significant changes in the distribution of population and in educational practices since then. Our society has become increasingly urban and new systems of education such as multi-denominational schools have been added into the mix. In the face of such dramatic change, a review of catchment areas and boundaries is long overdue. It is ridiculous that 37 years have passed since the last one. "We need to finally bring school bus transport into the 21st century. Parents now have more choice as to what type of education they want for their child. As demographics have changed, the catchment areas and boundaries will also have to change.

"I cannot understand why it has been let go on so long. The matter has been raised many times over the years. For example seven years ago my party leader and colleague Trevor Sargent TD carried out a review of school transport on behalf of the Education and Science Committee. The report clearly recommended that the catchment areas would have to be looked at again. Yet as we have seen absolutely nothing has been done.

"Why can't a review be carried out? The Minister for State with responsibility for school transport, Síle de Valera TD told members of the Joint Committee on Education and Science last year that a review of catchment boundaries may be appropriate in certain circumstances. Let's carry out the review as a matter of urgency and debate the recommendations later."

Cllr de Burca called on the Minister for Education to immediately set up a review group that would produce an interim report by Christmas and a full report by March 2007.