Vol. 450 No. 4
60 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education if she will extend the school transport service for the secondary schools in Youghal, County Cork to cater for the 700 pupils who have to walk a mile from the present bus stop in all weathers with heavy school bags in view of the fact that the school authorities are prepared to pay for the additional cost and that approval has been given by Bus Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5179/95]
The number of pupils availing of school transport service to the three post-primary schools in Youghal is 231.
The present position is that the central set-down point, a normal feature of the school transport scheme, is located near the Loreto Convent. Pupils attending the vocational school and the Christian Brothers School have to walk 0.7 miles in the morning and again in the evening.
I understand that the walk in the morning for these pupils involves a climb up a steep hill. Therefore, as an exceptional matter, it has been agreed to establish a second set-down point in the morning only. This will bring the pupils in question to a point very close to their own schools.
