asked the Minister for Education the number of vehicles at present engaged in school transport; and the annual estimate of the cost of such transport.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Transport.
118.
Mr. O'Malley
The total number of vehicles at present engaged on special transport services for primary and post-primary schools is 1,019. In addition, public scheduled services are used to cater for students who are within the range of such services.
On the basis of the present number of eligible students, it is estimated that the annual cost of transport will be £1,526,000, £156,000 for primary services and £1,370,000 for post-primary services.
119.
asked the Minister for Education if he will consider extending the school transport scheme to additional centres on routes where children have to travel more than two miles to the nearest stop and where the number of children is sufficiently large to justify such extensions.
Mr. O'Malley
The post-primary transport scheme has been organised on the basis that no pupil will have more than three miles to travel either to a school or to a suitable pick-up point on a school bus route. Because of the limited resources available, routes must be planned as economically as possible having regard to the convenience of the pupils. I am prepared to consider any suggestion for the extension of a route where the number of children is sufficiently large but regard must be had to factors such as cost, the nature of the terrain, and the length of time necessary to complete the journey.
Would the Minister not agree that if the bus were to travel a mile farther it would be a great advantage? I am confident he is doing everything he possibly can to make this scheme work smoothly and efficiently. I appreciate the difficulty in getting the scheme going in such a short time. Would the Minister consider sending along, say a representative of his Department to discuss this matter with parents and others concerned in centres from which a legitimate application has been received and to which there are reasonable grounds for extending the service? It is a big advantage to get the service.
Mr. O'Malley
That is a reasonable request. In fact, I have got representations from Deputies on similar points. I have arranged that our inspector and the transport liaison officer in the area will visit the parents concerned where, as the Deputy said, the representations seem to be valid and reasonable.