Micheál Martin
Question:314 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education if she will sanction a larger bus for use on a school bus route (details supplied) in view of the far too low capacity of the existing bus on the route. [1021/97]
Written Answers. - School Transport.
All eligible pupils in this case are catered for on the school bus in question.
Pupils who do not qualify for free transport on normal age-distance grounds may be accommodated on existing services subject to the availability of seats after all eligible children have been catered for. There is limited capacity on this vehicle to cater for concessionary fare-paying pupils.
However, no extra State cost can be incurred by way of extending or altering the route of the service or by providing an additional or larger vehicle to provide a service for pupils who are not eligible for free transport. Extra costs would be involved if a larger bus were to be provided on this route.
In the circumstances, it is not open to my Department to provide a larger vehicle on this route.