Vol. 506 No. 2
405 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty being experienced by families with children attending St. Cronan's national school, Lusmagh, County Offaly, where their children aged from nine years downwards have to remain on the roadside for approximately 25 minutes each day after school; and the way in which he will improve and enhance school transport for these children. [14965/99]
It is the responsibility of each board of management, through the principal teacher, to organise and participate in the effective supervision of pupils during breaks, lunch periods, assembly and dismissal. It is a matter for individual school authorities to make the necessary arrangements to discharge this duty of care.
In the organisation of the school transport system, buses are normally required to operate a number of runs. This provides a basic level of service while achieving optimum value from the buses in use. To facilitate the operation of these services, children are often required to wait some time, morning and evening for their service. Routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child should have more than one hour and 30 minutes travelling and waiting time each day.
In this case the vehicle in use also serves another primary school. The pupils attending St. Cronan's are collected at 3.20 p.m. after school. I understand that some of these pupils have home pick-ups and set downs, morning and evening.
As the service to St. Cronan's national school, Lusmagh operates well within my Department's guideline and is satisfactory in the overall context of the scheme, I regret that no change can be made to the present level of service.
