Ombudsman investigates complaints [theecho.ie]
- Published: 16 June 2009
The Ombudsman for Children issued their report this week detailing their investigation following the complaint.
The investigation revealed that maps used for deciding the exact boundary were not uniform and the maps in existence were not accurate enough to make a decision.
The complaint was made on February 10, 2006 on behalf of 23 children by the parent of two of the affected children.
The complaint alleged that in 2005 the relevant catchment boundary on maps held by both the local VEC office and the Department of Education and Science individually were different.
The complaint also alleged the department applied the map incorrectly in making their decision to refuse the 23 children the Fully Eligible status that would have given them access to school transport.
The School Transport Scheme is operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Science.
Bus Éireann are responsible for planning routes, employing bus drivers, collecting fares and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
The VEC is responsible for administering the School Transport Scheme of all postprimary centres.
The Ombudsman for Children was supplied by the Planning section of the Department with a map.
The map is different to what is currently being used by Bus Éireann and the VEC.
It is also a large scale map scaled on a ratio of 1:62,500 and as such does not provide the required detail to administer such a scheme effectively and accurately.
The report also said the map contained excessive boundary thickness for the purposes of accuracy and clarity.
Indeed the report said the map held by the VEC on its website are in fact a series of photographs taken of the main Bus Eireann map as located in its office in Waterford.
The report recommended the Department, through its Planning section, devises the catchment boundary areas in relation to secondary schools.
These boundaries would then be contained on a master map held by the planning section and copied and distributed to the relevant stakeholders in the process.
The report also recommended that the 23 children would be provided with school bus transport and the transport agreement would remain in place for the duration of their schooling.
