Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 5

Written Answers - School Transport.

John McGuinness

Question:

124 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review an application (details supplied) in relation to a bus route (details supplied); if he will have arrangements made to examine the efficiency of the route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6714/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

As a guideline, primary school transport routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 1.5 miles to travel to a pick-up point. Pupils living off the main route of a service are generally expected to make their own way to convenient pick-up points along the main route.

Home pick-ups were never envisaged as being part of the school transport scheme, as the cost involved on a countrywide level would be prohibitative.

Pupils from the area referred to by the Deputy live between 0.2 and 0.5 miles from the present pick-up point. As this is considered to be a reasonable level of service in the overall context of the scheme, I regret that it is not open to my Department to re-route the school bus as requested.