Liam Aylward
Question:153 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education if she will instruct Bus Éireann to collect a school child (details supplied) in County Carlow outside the home of this child in view of his medical condition. [4267/95]
Written Answers. - School Transport.
The child in question lives in a closed school area and, under the terms of the primary school transport scheme, is eligible for free transport to the school of amalgamation. The bus serving this school passes the child's house.
However, my Department would be prepared to allow him concessionary fare-paying transport to the school he attends, provided that the board of management of the school of amalgamation gives its written agreement to his transportation. This concession would be subject to no extra State cost being incurred either by way of extending or altering the route of the existing service.
Extensions on medical grounds are generally allowed only in cases where children are severely handicapped and attending their appropriate school. In these circumstances, the extension could not be justified.
Liam Aylward
Question:154 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education if she will instruct Bus Éireann to re-route the school bus to facilitate two young children (details supplied) in County Carlow. [4268/95]
The pupils in question have been granted concessionary fare-paying transport in respect of attendance at a school other than their nearest.Under the terms of the school transport scheme, this concession is granted subject to there being room available on the bus after all eligible pupils have been accommodated and subject to no extra cost being incurred either by way of extending or altering the route of the existing service. Therefore, it is not open to my Department to sanction the rerouting of the school bus, as suggested by the Deputy.
John O'Leary
Question:155 Mr. O'Leary asked the Minister for Education if she will grant a school bus ticket to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as a fare-paying student to Kilgarvan national school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4272/95]
In order to be eligible for transport, primary school children under ten years of age must live at least two miles from their nearest school, while older children must live at least three miles away.
The child to whom the Deputy refers lives within two miles of Kilgarvan national school, and is, therefore, ineligible for free school transport. In the circumstances, the child may only be allowed fare paying transport after all eligible children have been accommodated.
As the service to Kilgarvan national school is currently operating to capacity, it is not possible to grant the pupil a school bus ticket as requested. However, the matter will be kept under review and, should accommodation become available, the family will be contacted by Bus Éireann which is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the service.