Vol. 429 No. 8
102 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Education the reason school bus transport is not being supplied for persons (details supplied) in County Sligo despite a legal obligation on her Department to provide such transport because of the obligations taken on when the original school in the area was closed down; and if she will have arrangements made for the children involved to be given transport by the existing service in that area.
The children concerned already have free transport on an existing service operating from the closed school area to which the Deputy refers.
A few weeks ago, my Department received an application for an extension to this service, which, if allowed, would have resulted in these children being picked up at their homes. I am advised that the children in question live between 0.1 and 0.9 miles from the current pickup point. They are, therefore, considered to have a reasonable and adequate standard of service in the context of the general operation of the scheme.
One of the main objectives of the Primary School Transport Scheme is to provide a basic level of service for children who live a long distance from school, and who might otherwise experience difficulty in attending regularly. Because of the cost, a door-to-door service cannot be a feature of the scheme.
103 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Education if school transport from her house will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Home pick-ups are not a feature of the Primary School Transport Scheme, because the cost would be prohibitive. The child in question is considered to have a reasonable standard of service in the context of the general operation of the scheme.
The school which the child is currently attending is the nearest to the family home.
