§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the total cost of providing early afternoon transport for primary 1 and primary 2 students in each education board area in each year since 1985;
(2) how many pupils availed themselves of early afternoon transport in each education board area, in each year since 1985.
§ Dr. Mawhinney[holding answer 14 May 1991]: Statistics of the actual cost and numbers of pupils for whom early afternoon transport was provided since 1985 are not maintained separately by the education and library boards, but are included in overall costs and numbers for home to school transport. The estimated costs and numbers for 1990–91 are as follows:
Education and Library Board Number of pupils Annual cost £ North-Eastern 350 24,000 South-Eastern 430 22,000 Southern 727 61,000 The Belfast and Western education and library boards do not provide early afternoon transport.