THE EDUCATION minister has said she will examine a situation whereby secondary school students in parts of North East Clare have missed out on public school transport for the current academic year.

Minister Norma Foley was responding to Deputy Michael McNamara during a recent meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Education.

The Scariff TD highlighted how post-primary students in the Whitegate area, who previously held concessionary tickets for transport to Scariff Community College (SCC), did not qualify for a school bus place this year, under the terms of the new school transport scheme unveiled in July.

Deputy McNamara outlined how the criteria disqualified some students in the Whitegate area from securing a bus place to SCC, as it had marked Woodford in County Galway as their closest school.

He described the road from Whitegate to Woodford, which was identified, by the Department, as the shortest route as little more than a “forest track” and “not fit for school buses”. He pointed out that SCC is the school chosen by many Whitegate students, who wished to remain in education in County Clare rather than have to travel to neighbouring Galway.

Minister Foley responded by saying her Department is reviewing the current criteria that involve identifying the closest school for students applying for tickets.

She confirmed that she is consulting with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to see if additional funding can be provided for school pupils who do not meet current criteria for school transport, and are reliant on concessionary tickets, including students in the Whitegate area.

Speaking this week on RTÉ’s Prime Time, Minister Foley agreed there is a need for a root and branch review of transport system. She said that process has begun.

The process will involve engagement with parents, school bus providers and others. It is understood that this process is nearing completion. She said the review will lead to new recommendations.