Vol. 470 No. 4
171 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education if an additional bus will be provided for pupils attending Killeen national school and Louisburgh secondary school, County Mayo, in order to maintain the level of service which was provided in 1995, in view of the fact that pupil numbers have increased. [19100/96]
The additional bus requested by the Deputy is not warranted.
The total number of eligible pupils offering for transport to Louisburgh post primary centre, Louisburgh national school and Killeen national school has fallen from 311 pupils in 1980, to 264 in 1995 and to 248 in 1996.
In organising the provision of school services, Bus Éireann, as agents for the Department, is obliged to do so in the most economic and cost-effective way.
There are four contractors vehicles engaged in operating special school services for pupils in this area in the current school year. As these pupils are considered to have a reasonable and adequate level of service in the context of the general operation of the school transport scheme, the present arrangement is the most that can be offered.
