Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Mar 1993

Vol. 427 No. 8

Written Answers. - School Transport Service.

Theresa Ahearn

Question:

11 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the delays involved in requests for a change in school bus routes; the steps if any, she will take to improve the efficiency in the running of the school transport system; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

John O'Donoghue

Question:

20 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education her views on whether the school transport scheme is adequate and whether there should be a fundamental review of the scheme to enable more children to avail of it; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

116 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the delays involved in requests for a change in school bus routes; if she will improve the efficiency of the school transport system; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 20 and 116 together.

The school transport service comprises a complex and integrated nationwide route network and any proposal for route alteration requires careful consideration. Where such requests are achieved, it is necessary for my Department to get a detailed report from Bus Éireann on the feasibility and implications of any proposed change. The time-scale involved in assessing such requests will vary, depending on the complexity of the issues, but I can assure the Deputies that every effort is made to arrive at decisions as quickly as possible.

An issue which is sometimes involved in proposals for re-routing is that of bringing a service closer to the homes of the children concerned. This invariable leads to additional cost and often also extends the first pick-up times of the service in the morning and the last set-down time in the evening.

It is a principal object of the School Transport Scheme to provide a basic level of service for children who live long distances from school and which might otherwise experience difficulty in making a regular attendance at school. Where pupils living off the main route of a service are considered to have a reasonable and adequate level of service it will not usually be possible to approve re-routing to add further mileage to the service.

I am very concerned to ensure that the system is operated in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible. In 1991, a consultants' report prepared for my Department and the Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications jointly indicated that Bus Éireann, who are my Department's agent in managing the school transport scheme, was providing a cost-effective service. This report did not, however, treat in detail the possibility of alternative locally-based arrangements. A second consultants' report was commissioned in 1992 by my predecessor to look at this aspect of the matter and I am now considering this report.

P. J. Sheehan

Question:

12 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Education the reason 15 pupils from the Barrakilla area of Ardgroom, Beara, County Cork, are denied school transport to Eyeries national school although they were given a verbal guarantee by her Department that transport would be provided for them when Ardgroom national school closed.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The pupils in question live in the Collerus (Shelbourne) closed school area and are, therefore, eligible for free school transport to the school of amalgamation only, which is Lauragh National School.

They are not entitled to free transport to Eyeries National School but may avail of fare-paying transport to that school, subject to certain conditions. One is that there must be room on an existing service. I understand, however, that there is no room on the bus in question at present.