Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Apr 1993

Vol. 429 No. 6

Written Answers. - School Bus Service.

Andrew Boylan

Question:

323 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the dissatisfaction of parents with the school bus service to Dernakesh national school, servicing comprehensive school, Cootehill, via Shercock Road to Cohan, Bough, Knappagh to Ballybaycross and back through Drokabawn; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that these children are collected on the above routes at 8.30 a.m. to arrive at Dernakesh at 9.10 a.m. with 75 children and that the same bus has then to travel another route to collect 28 children to arrive at Dernakesh National School at 9.45 a.m.; her views on whether the loss of 15 minutes education daily by these 28 students can be justified; and if, in view of the above, she will review this service and give a date when this will be done.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

My Department is aware of the problems regarding the school transport service to Dernakesh NS.

The bus serving Dernakesh NS operates three trips, one to Cootehill Comprehensive School, and two to Dernakesh NS. On the first trip to Dernakesh NS, approximately 70 pupils are catered for. The first pupil is picked-up at 8.40 a.m. These children arrive at school at 9.10 a.m. The bus then collects approximately 30 more pupils. They arrive at 9.40 a.m., 10 minutes after school commences. In the evening, the 30 pupils are brought home first. The remaining 70 are then collected at 3.40 p.m., with the last set-down at 4.10 p.m.

The Department normally operates a policy of first in, first home. Having consulted with Bus Éireann, a change in the time-table will be made. This will mean that the 70 pupils who are first in, will now be first home in the evening, while the smaller group of children will have to wait approximately 35 minutes after school to be collected. This is the fairest way to operate the service, as the waiting times will now be shared more equally between the two groups.