The South Down MLA said:
"Having spoken to the Education Minister John O'Dowd regarding the need to encourage the growth of Irish Medium Education in the South Down Area, and specifically the Lecale region, I am delighted that pupils wanting to attend Gaelscoileanna in Downpatrick will be offered the transport required.
"The Department for Education has a legislative duty to ‘encourage & facilitate Irish Medium Education’ so it’s only right that sustainable transport arrangements are established as soon as possible.
"The decision to fund these primary transport places is hugely important in sustaining parents' preference to choose Irish Medium Education for their children.
Mr Hazzard added:
"I have also recently met with parents of older children in the Downpatrick and Lecale area who need similar help in securing appropriate post-primary transport provision so that their children can continue to attend Coláiste Feirste in Belfast.
“In the next academic year we are going to see the cohort of local pupils travelling to Coláiste Feirste double in size, so it’s vital that improved transport arrangements are established as the demand for Irish Medium Education continues to grow at a remarkable pace in the local area.”
